A human rights lawyer has been detained for six months after
defending Chinese churches in their fight against demolition and cross
removal.
Zhang Kai was taken by police from a Christian church in Wenzhou, in
the province of Zhejiang. Chinese attorneys have confirmed Zhang has
been confined to six months of residential surveillance on suspicion of
"endangering state security" and "disturbing the public order."
These are two charges frequently brought against dissidents in China and are used to prevent lawyers meeting with their clients.
Residential surveillance usually means "hotels, so the investigators
can contact the parties directly," said another rights protection
lawyer, Liu Xiaoyuan.
"The party is left alone in the room, and the investigator keeps watch on him every day. This causes more psychological stress."
Zhang had been representing churches which have been battling
official attempts to tear down crucifixes and houses of worship in
Wenzhou.
After taking away Zhang and two assistants, Wenzhou police also
detained more than 10 Christians, including pastors, human rights
activists told Voice of America. Some have since been released, but most are still in custody.
Bob Fu, the founder and president of China Aid, a Christian human
rights organisation, told Christian Today of his outrage at the
sentence.
"This represents a new low on the rule of law in China," Fu said.
"They did nothing but legally defend hundreds of church's crosses from
being barbarically demolished.
"The international community, especially President Obama, should make
it clear to President Xi Jinping [that] these acts of total disregard
to basic human rights and religious freedom should and will be condemned
by all during Xi's planned visit to the United Nations and U.S. next
month."
According to religious rights groups, about 1,500 crucifixes have
been torn down in Zhejiang province, which includes Wenzhou. Several
churches have been demolished.
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