Religion: June 2009 Archives

By Zheng Yuwen | VOICE OF AMERICA NEWS | The Epoch Times
June 16, 2009

A Beijing court recently sentenced a bookstore owner to three years in prison for printing and circulating the Bible. He was officially convicted for conducting "illegal business activities." Observers say that this sentencing shows China only pays lip service to religious freedom. People's right to follow their own faith is heavily restricted or even stripped away.

The bookstore sells Christian books in Beijing. The owner, 38-year-old Mr. Shi Weihan, is also the leader of a house church. On June 10, a court in Beijing sentenced him to three years in prison, and charged him 150,000 Yuan (approximately $20,000) in fines. Six others, including members of the same church and workers at the printing house, were also sentenced to prison or fined.

Shi's wife, Ms. Zhang Jing, told VOA that the family was surprised by the long sentence term. Shi's daughters, who are 8 and 12, are having a hard time accepting the sentence. Ms. Zhang said, "The two kids feel that their father is innocent. They don't know why he was convicted and sentenced."

Shi was arrested on November 28, 2007 by the authorities. He was released on January 4, 2008, but was arrested again on March 19, 2008. He had been detained at the Haidian Detention Center since then.

Ms. Zhang said that Shi has severe diabetes. Since March 2008, family members were prohibited from visiting or giving him medicine. His lawyer requested medical parole but received no response. The family is very concerned about Shi's health.

Shi's youngest daughter was born in the United States and is a US citizen. Since Shi's arrest, the U.S. Embassy in China has called his family several times to inquire about his situation.

A VOA reporter called Haidian Police Bureau for Shi's information. Bureau staff told the reporter to submit a written request before they would grant an interview.

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BBC News
June 08, 2009

The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has been made an honorary citizen of the French capital, Paris.

The mayor, Bertrand Delanoe, made the award in what French President Nicolas Sarkozy described as a municipal matter, not an act of state.

France has been trying to repair ties with China, but analysts said this award could further ruffle relations.

Beijing accuses the Dalai Lama of wanting to split China, but he says he only wants autonomy for his people.

The Dalai Lama began his latest European tour in Denmark on Friday, and has also visited Iceland and the Netherlands.

'Deliberate staging'

He said on Sunday that the rioting that erupted in Tibet in March last year had been fomented by agents of the Chinese state in order to justify a subsequent crackdown and smear local activists as rioters.

"Despite a heavy security presence throughout Lhasa from March 10 onwards, it remains unclear why the Chinese forces of order remained inactive for so long in the centre of the city," the Dalai Lama said.

"On March 14, Tibetans unknown to anyone in Lhasa started to burn shops and throw stones at the Chinese without police interference, while film crews already in place filmed the scene and broadcast it throughout the world.

"Only then did the security forces crack down on the disturbances. It is hard not to suspect a deliberate staging of riots," he said, speaking in Tibetan through a French translator.

Tibet 'errors'

A strong reaction from China is expected to both the award and to the Dalai Lama's comments.

Tension has been high between France and China, following chaotic scenes during last year's Olympic torch relay through Paris, and a December meeting between Mr Sarkozy and the Dalai Lama.

Last month China warned France not to make more "errors" on Tibet.

The Dalai Lama has lived in exile in Dharamsala in India since 1959 when China took full control of Tibet.

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