XINJIANG--On March 22nd, 5:00 PM
(local time), two Christian women (one native to Kuche, Xinjiang) were
arrested for passing out Christian gospel flyers on the streets in
Akesu, Xinjiang. Kuche Police joined forces with local Akesu
authorities to arrest the two women. The police were not in uniform and
provided no legal documents, violating standard legal procedures for
the arrests. The two women were detained and interrogated by police for
about two hours. Both were released at 7:00 PM (local).
Akesu church members speculate that the arrests of the two women, and the proceeding interrogations, are connected to recent phone interview with foreign media. Last week, a reporter from Radio Free Asia (RFA) called the Akesu Public Security station to investigate a case concerning the arbitrary detention of six Christians on March 18, 2010. The Akesu church suspects that the international political pressure highlighting the detentions, and the subsequent involvement of foreign media, led to the backlash and illegal arrests of the two women.
ChinaAid denounces
the unjust treatment of Chinese believers and the repression their
religious freedoms. We further call on the Chinese authorities to deal
impartial justice, and refrain from retaliating against the church for
speaking the truth to the world. We urge
supporters to continue to pray for the churches and Christians in
Akesu, Xinjiang!
