Published on: 12 December 2023
DOHI Staff
The Zhenxiong County Court (Zhaotong City, Yunnan Province) has decided that arrested pastor Chang Hao will remain in jail until his trial date. By denying him bail and keeping him away from his family and church community, government officials are making a clear statement – Pastor Hao is a “threat” to their idea of what constitutes national security.
On April 14, Chang’s home was raided by police. All Bibles, Christian literature, and face masks, imprinted with Gospel messages, were confiscated. It was reported that authorities were greatly troubled by these face masks since they had become very popular with residents in the area.
After the search and seizure, Chang was taken into custody and arrested on charges of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble.” Since his detainment, Chang’s family and lawyer have been denied access to him and his case files on multiple occasions.
On November 22, his family reported that the Prosecutor’s Office plans to proceed with a trial on charges of “publishing and forwarding false information on the Internet, inappropriate speeches, causing serious chaos in public order, and having a bad social impact.” No date has been set and bail has been denied.
Pastor Hao suffers from physical disability and diabetes. His wife and elderly mother are also seriously ill.
To read more and learn how to advocate on Pastor Hao’s behalf, go here: Chang Hao-China – Door of Hope International (dohi.org)
