Source: www.ChinaAid.org
Date: June 28, 2022
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Preacher Geng Zejun
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(Shizuishan, Ningxia Province – June 28, 2022) Hunong District Court rescheduled preacher Geng Zejun’s trial to July 13, the third delay of his hearing. Hao Ying was notified by her husband’s lawyer late last week and posted a prayer request on social media.
This was the third time the Court rescheduled Geng Zejun’s trial. On June 10, his lawyer was notified the trial was scheduled on June 22. On June 20, they were June 30. Recently, the Court rescheduled to July 13.
Panshi church is a house church in Shizuishan, Ningxia province. The local government persecuted them for holding scheduled services. Authorities raided during a Sunday service on December 5, 2021, and older Christians were asked to write down their personal information and leave. Police took the others to the police station for interrogation. The following day, preacher Geng Zejun was administratively detained for 15 days under the charge of “disturbing social order.” Mrs. Hao Ying, Luo Shiping, Ye Ningfang, Zhu Junying, and Wang Sufang were administratively detained for 10 days.
Huinong District Public Security Bureau issued the following administrative punishment decision notice on December 5, 2021:
Since September 2021, Geng Zejun, Hao Ying, Luo Shiping, Ye Ningfang, Zhu Junying, and Wang Sufang were involved in illegal gatherings multiple times in the name of Christianity. On December 5 at around 2 PM, we arrested Geng Zejun, Hao Ying, and Wang Sufang during their illegal gathering. We also arrested Luo Shiping, Ye Ningfang, and Zhu Junying from their homes on the same day. Their behavior has severely disturbed social order. We decided to give Geng Zejun a 15-day administrative detention based on item 1 and item 2 of article 23 of the "Public Security Administration Punishment Law of the People's Republic of China."
On January 4, 2022, at 8:30 AM, preacher Geng Zejun was summoned by police again. They released him half a month later. When his family called the police station, they were told he had been criminally detained on suspicion of “organizing and funding illegal gatherings.” He was formally arrested on January 25 under the charge of “organizing illegal gatherings”. Currently, he is detained in the Shizuishan Detention Center. The other five Christians with the same charge were released on bail.
Hao Ying posted a prayer request letter on social media. She said:
I don’t think our church services are illegal gatherings. Fellow Christians, please pray for brother Geng Zejun. He has been imprisoned for more than 6 months. We believe God is in charge. Please pray for God to calm his heart and keep him strong so that he can glorify God.
~Yu Bing, ChinaAid Special Reporter
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