Three Chinese pastors were tortured while under house arrest

Christian Solidarity Worldwide founding president Mervyn Thomas says he is "appalled by the inhumane treatment these three Church of Abundance pastors have endured while in police custody."

In China, three pastors from the Church of Abundance in Xi'an have been under "residential surveillance in a designated place" (RSDL) since August 2022. On February 22, for the first time and a week after being transferred to a detention center, they were able to meet their lawyers.

Their church made a statement, seen by Christian Solidarity Worldwide, in which she reveals that the three pastors were tortured, in an attempt to extract a confession.

The policemen threatened senior pastor Lian Changnian with depriving his son, Lian Xuliang, who is also detained, of food, but also with beatings. During the first month of detention, the latter received only half a glass of water and a steamed bun at each meal. Fu Juan was physically assaulted and threatened on several occasions.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide founding president Mervyn Thomas says he is "appalled by the inhumane treatment these three Church of Abundance pastors have endured while in police custody."

"We reiterate our call on China to abolish the practice of RSDL detention, which leads to widespread torture and violates its obligations under the Convention against Torture and other international treaties."

It calls on the Chinese government to "end its outrageous crackdown on unregistered religious groups and release Pastor Lian Changnian, Pastor Lian Xuliang, Ms. Fu Juan, Bishop Shao Zhumin, Father Jiang Sunian and all others who have been arbitrarily detained or imprisoned for their religious activities".

MC

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