Christian Today has this story today about how Chinese Christians are being imprisoned for helping North Korean refugees. FULL STORY
Chinese officials in Erlianhaote city have sentenced two Christians – Miss Li Mingshun and Mr. Zhang Yonghu to 10 and 7 years respectively in prison, for aiding North Korean refugees fleeing to South Korea through China.
ChinaAid Association reported Monday that Li and Zhang were among several Christians helping to provide food, shelter, and transportation for the 61 refugees crossing Northern Chinese provinces into Mongolia, where neutral state laws permit residents to seek asylum in South Korea.
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However, on 30 August 2009, Ms. Li was found guilty for her humanitarian work by the Erlianhaote Procuratorate, officially for "human smuggling across the border." She was sentenced to ten years in prison. Ms. Li's family in Qindao City received the verdict the morning of 30 August.
Meanwhile, Mr. Zhang received a seven-year sentence for organising transportation for the refugees to Inner Mongolia. Li's family reports they will be submitting an appeal for Li and Zhang's lawful release.
ChinaAid said the verdict underscores years of continued persecution for North Koreans in China, who have been denied refugee-status by the Chinese government and repatriated in violation of the UNHCR Convention and Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, which China signed in 1982.