Gao Zhisheng, a Chinese human rights lawyer who has come under fire in recent years for his work defending underground Christians (click here for more details), was forcibly taken from his hometown in Shaanxi province on February 4. According to ChinaAid, his current whereabouts are unknown and there is serious concern for his safety. On February 9, a letter written by Zhisheng detailing the brutal treatment he endured while detained for over 50 days in 2007 was released to the international community. Click here to read this letter.

For more on the persecution of Christians in China, click here.