ICC NOTE: A Beijing based law firm is taking on the cases of various Christian groups and individuals to take the fight of illegal detentions and closures to the government. The move, while encouraging, is also dangerous as it places the law firm under government scrutiny as well. Past cases have resulted in the arrests of attorneys who helped Christians and human rights activists. Pray these cases are heard and dealt with under legal and impartial laws, but also pray for the safety towards the plaintiffs and their counsel. 

2/22/2016 Beijing, China (China Aid) – A Beijing-based law firm reported taking the cases of various groups and individuals throughout China, in which they will contest fines, house church closures, detentions, and the confiscation of personal items.

Lawyers Li Baiguang and Liu Peifu of Beijing’s Gongxin Law Firm will represent three cases filing for administrative reconsideration on decisions and punishments issued by local and provincial governments across China. The three plaintiffs each claim that authorities handled their cases unlawfully or without due process.

Public security bureau officers in Qiqihar, the second largest city in China’s northeastern Heilongjiang province, placed Shen Fuchu, a pastor from Shanghai, in administrative custody from Sept. 10–20 while he visiting a house church. Shen, along with four others—Han Xuexi, Zhou Duanzheng, Wang Huailin, Zhang Lianxiang, and Niu Guizhen—had gathered in Niu’s home with more than 70 people. Both Shen and Zhou applied for legal representation by Li and Liu Peifu.

Authorities confiscated 70,000 Yuan (U.S. $10,700) that had been given to Shen and Niu to help cover travel costs and claimed that because Shen was not a pastor at a church registered with the government, his title as pastor and ordinations were false. In addition to the 10 days of administrative custody Shen served, he was fined 500 Yuan (U.S. $70) and had various personal belongings confiscated.

In Guiyang, the capital of China’s inland Guizhou province, Zhang Jun contested a ban issued by the Yunyan District Religious Affairs Bureau, which closed a house church’s meeting place and claimed that the venue was unauthorized for religious activities.

Also in Guiyang, Christian Chen Wu filed a suit against the Guanshanhu District Religious Affairs Bureau for the closure of an allegedly unauthorized religious venue.

Li and Liu Peifu, the lawyers representing the cases for Shen, Zhang and Chen, are also known for representing the cases of Su Tianfu of Huoshi Church and Liu Peng, the detained legal assistant of prominent human rights lawyer Zhang Kai. Li also represented detained church elder Hu Shigen.

Shen and Zhang Jun’s applications for administrative reconsideration, Shen’s administrative punishment verdict, the banning notice for Chen’s building, and the lawyers’ commission to represent Zhou document can be found translated below. Translations of the applications for administrative reconsideration from Chen and Zhou; lawyers’ commission documents from Chen, Zhang Jun and Shen; an administrative punishment verdict for Zhou; a banning notice from Zhang Jun; and identification documents from Shen and Zhou are available upon request.

China Aid supports the legal defense of cases of religious persecution or human rights abuse such as these. If you would like to show your support, please consider making a donation to the legal defense fund.

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