Eight Christians Sentenced

After a hearing that lasted almost twelve hours on December 22, the eight house church Christians from Zhejiang who were arrested last July (read the story) were given sentences ranging from one year to three and a half years in prison. The sentences for four of the Christians were postponed which suggests that they may be released. During the trial, one of those sentenced, Shen Chengyi (75), lost consciousness and was taken to hospital for treatment.

For more information on the persecution of Christians in China, go to the China Country Report.

E-mail Print
 

China Profile

Location
Asia

Population
1,336,718,015 (July 2011 est.)

Ethnicity (%)
Han Chinese (91.5), Zhuang, Manchu, Hui, Miao, Uighur, Tujia, Yi, Mongol, Tibetan, Buyi, Dong, Yao, Korean, and other nationalities (8.5)

Religion (%)
Non-religious (47.6), Ethnic Religions (21.8), Buddhism (21.4), Christianity (7.3), Islam (2.0)

Leader
President Hu Jintao

Government type
Communist state

Legal system
Based on civil law system; derived from Soviet and continental civil code legal principles

Statistics provided by CIA World Factbook, Joshua Project and Operation World.