China: Pastor imprisoned

A Hui Christian pastor has been imprisoned for nine months for “organising illegal gatherings” in China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

Ma Yan, 32, had pleaded guilty to the charge after being accused of organising the gathering of ten or less believers because other charges are punished more harshly, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reports.

His sentence will reportedly last until mid-April, due to his time under detention since last August, but CSW President Mervyn Thomas has described the sentence as “completely unacceptable” according to Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.