Leader of Innovative House Churches Dying in Chinese Prison

Chinese pastor Gong Shengliang once faced the death penalty for leading a 50,000-strong movement of innovative yet unregistered house churches. Now, imprisoned since 2001, the South China Church (SCC) founder is dying from lack of medical care, according to his daughter.

In an open letter to Chinese president Xi Jingping, Gong Huali describes the torture suffered by her father over the past decade and appeals for medical treatment. She writes:

"[My father's] life is in grave danger.... Accordingly, we have asked for his release on bail for urgent medical treatment. But, again and again, our petitions have been completely ignored, without any reasonable response. It is very urgent for my father to have immediate medical treatment, otherwise he will either die soon while imprisoned under false pretense or remain severely disabled for the remainder of his life."

CT reported how Gong's 2001 death sentence on charges of rape, arson, and leading a cult drew international headlines, especially after three women revealed they had been tortured into making the rape allegations against him. Intervention by the Bush administration helped earn Gong a retrial and re-sentencing to life in prison instead. Read more

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