Christian couple in China heavily fined and sentenced to seven years in prison

Your prayers are needed for a Christian couple in China facing seven years in prison for printing and selling Christian books. They’ve also been heavily fined. The persecution of Christians in China is intensifying. You can invite your MP to hear more about this at the parliamentary launch of the World Watch List next month.

The Chinese authorities are increasingly clamping down on the distribution of Christian literature

A Christian couple in China have been fined the equivalent of around £60,000 and face seven years in prison for printing and selling Christian literature. 

Chang Yuchun (53) and his wife Li Chenhui (44) – who have four children aged between four and 22 – ran their business selling large quantities of Christian books for five years until it was shut down by the authorities in July 2020. Over 210,000 books were confiscated from the business’s warehouse and workshop. 

In August this year, the couple were found guilty of running a company without a licence and ‘inciting subversion of State power’. They appealed the verdict but it was upheld last month. 

Their children are now staying with their grandparents, who are aged 70 and 73. The hefty fine will be a huge burden for the family to bear. 

China rises 26 places on World Watch List in just three years

The case is another example of the authorities in China clamping down on the distribution of Christian resources. In October, Zhang Xiaomai was also given a seven-year prison sentence and heavily fined for selling Christians books online. Like Chang Yuchun and his wife, he was found guilty of ‘illegal business operation’ charges.

These rulings reflect the intensifying pressure facing Christians in China. The country is number 17 on the World Watch List, jumping six places from last year’s list. In just three years, the country has risen 26 places. New restrictions on the internet, social media and non-governmental organisations – along with tighter surveillance and a revision of religious regulation in 2018, which was enhanced again last year – are seriously limiting Christian freedom.

The deteriorating situation Christians are facing in China will feature in the parliamentary launch of the 2022 World Watch List on 19 January. More than 100 MPs have already signed up to attend. If you’ve yet to invite your MP – or you’d like to encourage family and friends to invite theirs – there is still time. 

Source: China Aid