MIANNING, China — A rural preacher put in criminal detention in China for his Christian beliefs has been released to “residential surveillance.”
The rights group ChinaAid reports that Bai Caiming was released Sept. 25 from Mianning County Detention Center in China’s Sichuan province. Detained Sept. 11, Bai Caiming was accused of “engaging in illegal Christian activities” and charged with “illegal business operations.”
His wife, Dong Shixia, was detained for 10 days, allegedly for being uncooperative with police, says ChinaAid. She was released Sept. 19.
Their daughter Meng’en told on the social media platform Weibo of her father’s detention, requesting prayer for him and funds for legal counsel. Eight hours later, she posted that money needed for an attorney had been received.
Bai Caiming’s attorney, Guo Haibo, went to the Mianning detention center Sept. 25 to see his client but instead was allowed to take him home, ChinaAid says.
Ongoing persecution
This is not the first time Bai Caiming has been punished for his beliefs. ChinaAid states that he was sent to a labor camp in 1998 because of a gathering of believers in his home. He remained in the “reeducation” camp for about 30 months.
China is No. 19 on Open Doors’ 2024 World Watch List of places most difficult to be a Christian.
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