Chinese Bookstore Workers Jailed
Last Dec. 19, Chinese officials arrested two men involved in setting up a new Christian bookstore in Taiyuan, China. Wenxi Li, a bookstore worker from Beijing, traveled to Shanxi province in 2012 to help local Christians, including Lacheng Ren, stock, set up and open a new bookstore. He brought several hundred Christian books with him from Beijing. But police raided the bookstore and confiscated all the books Wenxi brought.
On Dec. 19, police asked Wenxi to appear at the police station to retrieve the $6,000 worth of books that police had seized. When he arrived at the police station, though, he was immediately arrested. Hours afterward, police went to Lacheng Ren’s home and arrested him also.
Wenxi was denied bail, according to police, because of the seriousness of his “crime.” His wife, Cai Hong Li, said police told her that her husband was arrested because he was involved in an “illegal business.” However, Cai Hong said the bookstore had a legal license to operate and that her husband was not involved with managing the business. He was “just sent to find a rental place for a new store,” Cai Hong said.
While in prison awaiting trial, Wenxi led three people to Christ. His family expected a quick release, but instead, on June 17, Wenxi was sentenced to two years in prison. Lacheng Ren was given a five-year prison sentence.
Since her husband’s arrest, Cai Hong said she and her two children have received harassment from anonymous sources. She added that she fears for her children’s safety.
Wenxi’s family is planning to appeal his case.
Since the launch of www.PrisonerAlert.com, VOM has heard from numerous former prisoners that letters from international Christians are a huge encouragement. In numerous cases the letters have also resulted in better treatment, and in some cases even early release, for the prisoners. Will you take a few minutes today to write a letter of encouragement to Wenxi Li and Lacheng Ren?