Persecution of Christians in China by the communist regime has intensified since 2018.
Newsroom (August 13, 2021 8:10 AM, Gaudium Press) A court in southeast China has upheld the conviction of the four Christians arrested last year on charges of illegally selling electronic devices containing Bible verses.
Bitter Winter, a journal on human rights and religious freedom, reported last week that Fu Hyunjuan, 43, Deng Tianyong, 50, Feng Qunhao, 45, and Han Li, 40, were arrested and fined for their involvement in these businesses. The occurrence took place in the city of Shenzhen in southeast China’s Guangdong province.
Fu was jailed for six years and fined 200,000 yuan (US$31,000); Deng Tianyong to three years and a fine of 50,000 yuan; Feng Qunhao to two and a half years and a fine of 30,000 yuan; and Han Li to 15 months and a fine of 10,000 yuan.
They were arrested on July 2, 2020 and faced trial on December 9 last year. Their verdicts had been delayed. Family members of the four men and fellow Christians have been warned not to talk about the case.
China’s communist regime initially tolerated the production and sale of electronic prayers and bibles, popular among Christians. However, according to media reports, things changed in 2018 when the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) adopted new repressive regulations on religious matters.
Chinese authorities have removed Bible apps and Christian public accounts from WeChat. Churches are being monitored and closed.
China was ranked 17th among 50 countries where Christians face rigorous forms of persecution.
With files from ucanews.com
Compiled by Gustavo Kralj
