Campaign for the release of two Chinese Uyghur Christians
http://www.opendoorsuk.org/campaign/uyghurs.php Osman Imin and Alimjan Yimit are both Uyghur Church leaders who have been in prison for over a year. Their detention is illegal in violation of Chinese court procedure. You can write to the Chinese Ambassador in the United Kingdom voicing your concern for Alimjan and Osman. <http://e-activist.com/ea-campaign/clientcampaign.do?ea.client.id=77&ea.campaign.id=3031>Click here to send a letter to Fu Ying » Personal details: Name: Osman Imin (male) Chinese name as it appears in official documents: Wusiman Yiming Identification card number: 653222197270813 Name: Alimjan Yimit (male) Chinese name as it appears in official documents: Alimujiang Yimiti Identification card number: 650104197306104712 Osman Imin House church leader Osman is married to Nurgul and they are Uyghurs, living in Xinjiang, the Uyghur Autonomous Region in the north-west corner of China. They have two daughters (aged 5 and 7) and over a year ago their lives were turned upside down when Osman was sentenced to two years of re-education through labour for 'revealing state secrets' and 'illegal proselytising'. Friends say he was arrested because he is an outspoken Christian and a leader in the Uyghur Church. It was not his first experience of this kind. He was initially arrested in 2004 and tortured severely by police, chained to a metal bed in winter without adequate clothing and beaten repeatedly. He was released on bail that same year, but re-arrested and sentenced in November 2007. The court rejected an appeal in June 2008 – without giving any reasons. Osman was denied proper access to his lawyer – a clear violation of Chinese court procedure. He is forced to work 12 to 15 hours a day in the labour camp. His health has deteriorated rapidly and he has aged dramatically. He is reportedly suffering from malnutrition and his family is not allowed to bring him any food. Nurgul is allowed to see her husband twice a month – for only 30 minutes. The journey takes a whole day on public transport. She feels very isolated. Alimjan Yimit Alimjan is married to Gulnur and they have two children. Like Osman, they also come from the Uyghur Autonomous Region in north-west China. In September 2007, the authorities closed down Alimjan's business, the Xinjiang Jiaerhao Foodstuff Company Ltd, accusing him of using it as a cover for 'preaching Christianity among people of Uyghur ethnicity'. In January 2008, he was arrested on an alleged 'national security' issue. Charges against him include 'inciting secessionist sentiment to split the country' and 'collecting and selling intelligence for overseas organisations'. He is an agricultural worker so it is difficult to believe he would have had access to classified information. Friends said they believe the true reason for his arrest was his faith. Officials have threatened a sentence ranging from six years imprisonment to execution. The conditions in jail are very harsh, affecting Alimjan's health and wellbeing. Despite this, China Aid Association reported in February 2009 that he is much respected in the prison. A verdict was expected by the end of April 2008, but his trial was rescheduled for May 2008. During the hearing on 27 May the Xinjiang Court returned the case to state prosecutors, citing 'insufficient evidence'. After further research by Public Security Bureau officials, prosecutors returned the case to court in October for consideration. To date, no new court date has been set and Alimjan has remained in pre-trial arrest for over a year. It appears that his case is being delayed indefinitely. This is a violation of Chinese court and detention procedures that prescribe the maximum pre-trial detention period of a year. In addition to the Xinjiang Court's citing of insufficient evidence, this violation should lead to his release. Any contact between Alimjan and his wife is prohibited. Gulnur has been trying to negotiate with the authorities for an impartial, expedient handling of the case, in accordance with the law. However, this has not led to any results so far. Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region The situation here is tense. The Chinese government is trying to destroy the Uyghur culture in the province by stimulating the migration of Han Chinese (general Chinese citizens) by providing them with better jobs. Han Chinese accuse the Uyghur people, who are predominantly Muslim, of religious extremism and separatism. There has been a long-running movement for independence for East Turkestan, as the Uyghurs call Xinjiang, and Islamic extremists were accused of killing 16 policemen in a terrorist attack shortly before the Olympics last August. Muslims who convert to Christianity are in an even more difficult position as a national minority, as converts leaving Islam and as Christians who face the wrath of their Muslim community and the Chinese government. They are forbidden to attend church services at the only government-approved Three Self Church in Xinjiang, and are therefore forced into meeting in unregistered house churches. Just as Chinese authorities increased restrictions on the Tibetan people last year in the run up to the 2008 Olympics, they increased persecution of Uyghurs, justifying it in the name of national security and protection against terrorism. Sources: Open Doors International Compass Direct News China Aid Association (CAA) Respond You can write to the Chinese Ambassador in the United Kingdom voicing your concern for Alimjan and Osman. <http://e-activist.com/ea-campaign/clientcampaign.do?ea.client.id=77&ea.campaign.id=3031>Click here to send a letter to Fu Ying » Please pray: * that Osman and Alimjan will be cleared of all charges and swiftly released * that God will provide both men with His strength as they face harsh prison conditions daily * for the wives of both men who are being monitored by the state security. Pray specifically for Nurgul, Osman's wife. Christians in her town are afraid to get in touch with her and she feels isolated. She is very concerned about her husband's situation and is finding it hard to keep going. Pray too for Alimjan's wife, Gulnur, and their two children. * that the Chinese government responds positively to this campaign. You can also send a letter to the families of Osman and Alimjan to encourage them at this difficult time, using our <../resources/lwg/lwg_onlinelwg.htm>online Letter-writing Guide » <*}}}>< <http://www.holypostage.com/>Custom Faith-based U.S. Postage <*}}}>< + <*}}}>< <http://astore.amazon.com/halthekin-20>Catholic on Amazon <*}}}>< <*}}}>< <http://www.halfthekingdom.org/on+allposters+today.html>on AllPosters today <*}}}>< + <*}}}>< <http://www.holypostage.com/>Holy Postage <*}}}>< <*}}}><<http://www.halfthekingdom.org/>Half the <http://www.halfthekingdom.org/>Kingdom!<*}}}>< + "A person is a person, no matter how small." Dr. Seuss --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Please note that I do not send or open attachments sent to this list. You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Catholics on Fire" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Catholics-on-Fire May the blessing of Jesus and our Blessed Mother be with you -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
