UPDATE: Trial Date Set for Taochuan Church Leaders' Administrative Lawsuit
by Staff
July 28, 2009
SHAANXI, China, (christiansunite.com) -- The trial date for the administrative lawsuit against Luonan County Public Security Bureau of Shaanxi Province has been set for July 29. Taochuan Village Christian Church leaders, Liu Caili, Huang Sumin and Xu Fenying, filed the lawsuit against on the grounds that their detentions, fines and the authorities' confiscation of books have no legal basis. Christian attorney Wu Chenglian will represent this case in court.The three Christians were arrested on June 14, when officers came to their homes and businesses and forcibly escorted them to the police station without presenting identification or official summons. Liu Caili and Huang Shumin were sentenced to 10 days of detention and Xu Fenying was given five days of detention.
In the lawsuit, the Christians state: 1) the charge was not based on facts, because the Christians gathered spontaneously to study the Bible, not in the name of a social organization 2) the administrative penalty had no legal basis because the Chinese Constitution guarantees freedom of belief, and 3) the authorities violated the legal procedure because they did not present identification or summons papers.
Authorities arrested the Christians as the latest in a series of actions to shut down their house church, and confiscate the church building. The authorities have targeted the church because the Christians have been advocating for justice for peasants in their village.
Contact the following government authorities in Shaanxi and urge they allow Taochuan Church to worship freely, and compensate and publically apologize to Huang Sumin, Liu Caili and Xu Fenying.
Luonan Public Security Bureau of Shaanxi: Main number: +86-0914-7322159
Office phone numbers: +86-0914- 7380416Ã...G+86- 0914-7381381Ã...G+86-0914-7326515
Public Security Window of Luonan County Administrative Service Center: Fax: +96-0914-7382334
