Reverend Zhang Shaoji sentenced to 12 years in prison for fraud and inciting public disorder.

Reverend Zhang Shaoji, a member of the Three Self-Religion Church, was sentenced to 12 years in prison by the South Leather People’s Court. The charges against him included “frauding” and “combating disorder.” His defense lawyer, Yang Xingqin, and a non-governmental organization denounced these charges as “all fabrications” by the Chinese court. Reverend Zhang and 20 members of his church were arrested in late November of the previous year by the Nan Lok police station.

The Chinese Christian Church, through Reverend Zhang’s daughter, confirmed the arrests and stated that the individuals were taken to the Ha-Sun Jae police station. After several months in detention, the court delivered its verdict. According to Agence France-Presse, such charges are frequently used by Chinese authorities to suppress dissent. Reverend Zhang had supported parishioners who protested against the local government’s sale of land.

Chinese media reports indicate that Reverend Zhang’s actions were in response to local government land sales, which are a significant source of revenue for local authorities. These sales often involve transferring land to real estate developers, creating a system of corruption and public discontent. The United States Aids to China’s head office, through Reverend Fauschill, tweeted that the Chinese authorities have used “all-for-all” charges against Reverend Zhang Shaoji.

Agence France-Presse attempted to contact the People’s Court on Friday but received no response. Reverend Zhang’s church, the Three Self-Religion Church, is the only Christian movement officially recognized by the Chinese government. China’s Communist Party maintains exclusive authority over religious activities, and underground church members frequently report persecution and arbitrary arrests. However, few members of the official churches have faced such charges.

In late April, a Christian church in Wenzhou was dismantled by local authorities, sparking public outrage. Wenzhou is known for its thriving Christian community. Today, China’s Christian community is divided between the official churches, which have 23 million followers, and the underground churches, which are estimated to have over 50 million followers. The underground churches operate in silence under the watchful eye of the state.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Mandarin Chinese)