Hunan Province: Five Christians Arrested

At the night on February 10^th, 2003, a group of police from Zhaoshi Town Precinct, Longshan County, Hunan Province, raided Christian Shaogui Yao’s home in Wafang Town, and arrested Shaofu Yao, Shiping Xiang, and Shaogui Yao who were meeting there. Then the police arrested two other village residents Shaokuan Yao and Shaoshen Yao from their homes. The five Christians were taken to the precinct. On the way, Policeman Xuefeng Wu used a flashlight to struck Shaogui Yao’s head and kicked him several kicks. The last kick hit his lower belly and made him almost fainted out.

Once arriving at the precinct, the Christians were interrogated. Shiping Xiang was beaten up by Policeman Wenli Liu. He was also cuffed around a tree for more than an hour. The interrogation lasted till the 12^th. But no results. Then the police extorted 200 RMB from Shaogui Yao and released them after ordering them not to leave the village within half a year and must to report to the police whenever required.