CHINA

PETER XU YONGZE

PETER XU HAS BEEN RELEASED!

Evangelist Xu Yongze, a leader of the Protestant "unity movement," continues to serve a 3-year reform-through-labor sentence in Pingyuan prison in Henan for allegedly disturbing public order. The Government's 1997 White Paper on Religious Freedom stated that Xu had violated the law by promoting a cult, preaching that the Apocalypse was near, and asking worshipers to wail in public spaces for several consecutive days. Group members deny these charges. Xu's colleagues Qin Baocai and Mu Sheng continue to serve reeducation-through-labor sentences. In September a group of leaders from house church networks met in Henan and issued a public communique calling on the Government to enter into a dialog with unofficial Protestant churches, to release all religious prisoners, and to redefine what constitutes a "cult." In December another communique set forth a common theological creed and a joint position on relations with the Government.

Pastor Xu Yongze was released from prison on May 16, 2000 after serving the entirety of his three year sentence of “re-education through labor” for allegedly creating an illegal organization. His sentence was originally four years, but was reduced to three years in December 1997. In reality, Pastor Xu was meeting with other leaders of the house church movement in China, thus raised concerns about lack of control among paranoid Chinese officials. Reports reveal that Pastor Xu was tortured while officials interrogated him.

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