Religion: October 2006 Archives

The Epoch Times
23 October 2006

Pastor Wang Zaiqin receives a two-year sentence for printing Bibles and other Christian literature

Giving away Bibles for free is a crime in China, according to a verdict recently handed down in the case of a House Church leader.

Pastor Wang Zaiqing, a prominent Chinese House Church leader in Anhui Province was sentenced on Oct. 9 to two years in prison on the charge of "Illegal Business Practices," and fined 100,000 Yuan ($12,500.00). In addition, all the books in his home, and the funds used to print them, were confiscated.

Pastor Wang was crippled at the age of 5. He became a Christian in 1993, and later became very well-known House Church for preaching and starting House Churches in several provinces around Anhui Province.

He had been printing and distributing Bibles and other Christian literature to fellow believers free of charge, which resulted in his detention by the local Public Security Bureau on April 28, 2006. Wang was formally arrested June 26, 2006.

On Sept. 4, 2006 the People's Prosecutor filed in the local People's Court the case to prosecute Wang Zaiqing for committing the crime of "Illegal Business Practices."

The indictment of the People's Prosecutor states Wang Zaiqing violated Chinese Criminal Law Article 225, Items 1 and 4, by printing Bibles and other Christian literature.

Wang's defense lawyer, Mr. Sun Hongye, stated: First, from a legal standpoint, the crime of Illegal Business Practices requires the accused to make a profit, and Wang Zaiqing's books were distributed at no cost. So Wang Zaiqing is innocent of this crime.

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