All 16 Imprisoned Chinese Christians Released From Detention in Henan Province

All 16 Imprisoned Chinese Christians Released From Detention in Henan Province
By Michael Ireland, Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service, May 25, 2009

HENAN, CHINA (ANS) -- The remaining 16 Christians from China Gospel Fellowship (CGF) house church group who were imprisoned by the Public Security Bureau (PSB) in Xinye, Henan province were released early from administrative detention on the afternoon of May 9.

ChinaAid (www.Chinaaid.org) says in a media release that even though the prisoners had not completed their sentences of 10-14 days in detention or paid their fines of 1,000 Yuan ($150 US), the officials did not require any other terms for their release.

ChinaAid sources said the early release of the prisoners was due to pressure from the international community and meant that, "the government admits what they did was wrong."

According to the media release, a total of 18 Christians were arrested on April 30 at 3 p.m. when they were gathered for a communion service at a house church in Shuitaizi village, Xinye, Henan province.

ChinaAid says: "A dozen PSB officers raided the gathering, and all the house church Christians were arrested and detained in the (PSB) office of Xinye. PSB officers threatened each of them with fines, and re-education through labor. They were charged with 'harming the society by falsely using the name of religion and Qi Gong.'"

When ChinaAid sent out a press release on the incident, two of the Christians were released the same day, but 16 were still in prison.

"Many from around the world prayed and called the Public Security Bureau officials in Xinye to express concern for those arrested and request the immediate release of the prisoners. On the afternoon of May 8, 11 of the Christians were released, and, in a few hours, the remaining five were released," ChianAid reported.