Chinese Christian Lawyer “Held Hostage” For 50 Days


By Worthy News Asia Service

Christian human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng has been missing for 50 days.
BEIJING, CHINA (Worthy News) — Abducted Chinese Christian human rights attorney Gao Zhisheng was missing 50 days on Thursday, March 26, amid “increasing concern for his life,” human rights investigators said.

“He was last seen being hauled away from his home by more than a dozen police officers on February 4,” said China Aid Association (CAA), a Christian advocacy group investigating the case.

“Reports from inside China indicate he is undergoing brutal torture,” and behing held as “a hostage” CAA said. China’s government has denied human rights abuses, but officials have not explained the whereabouts of the lawyer.

Yet, “The situation is critical, and with each day that passes, Gao Zhisheng’s life hangs

in the balance,” CAA told Worthy News in a statement. “Gao’s torture is the most severe persecution in China’s modern history,” said CAA President Bob Fu, a former house church pastor.

The group linked his detention to Gao’s work defending house church Christians and others “persecuted in China”.

FAMILY FLEES

Gao’s wife and two children, who CAA said were also abused “and tormented” by police, escaped to the United States earlier this month. “His family is afraid that authorities, furious at their escape, are taking revenge on Gao,” CAA said.

The organization said that it has asked supporters to sign a petition to free Gao. CAA and rights group Voice of the Martyrs opened a Web site for this purpose.

Gao’s detention comes amid concerns of reports about a crackdown on Christians worshiping outside the communist-government backed churches. Officials have reportedly expressed outrage over the spread of Christianity in China, which they view as challenging the Communist Party’s ideology.

There are some 130 million Chinese Christians, the largest and fastest growing Christian group in the world, according to some estimates provided by Chinese officials. (With reporting by Worthy News’ Stefan J. Bos).

We're being CENSORED ... HELP get the WORD OUT! SHARE!!!
Fair Use Notice:This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

Worthy Christian News