According to social media reports, Chinese human rights lawyer and religious freedom defender Zhang Kai was released on 23 March and is back in his hometown in Inner Mongolia.
Zhang Kai was detained on 25 August 2015 and accused of ‘disturbing social order’, stealing and spying, among other crimes. During six months’ detention under ‘residential surveillance at a designated location’, Zhang had no contact with his family or his lawyer and was then placed in criminal detention. On 25 February, Zhang was shown on state media giving a televised ‘confession’ admitting to ‘disturbing social order’, ‘endangering state security’ and behaving in an unprofessional manner. Activists believe this confession was made under duress.
Zhang Kai, a Christian, has provided advice and information to churches facing the forced removal of their crosses in Zhejiang Province and defended pastors detained in connection with their peaceful opposition to restrictions on their right to freedom of religion or belief.
