Two more detainees from Nanle County Christian Church, Henan Province, detained in November 2013 after a group of church members attempted to petition a higher authority about a land dispute involving the church, have been found guilty of ‘gathering a crowd to disrupt public order’, it was reported on September 9.
Zhang Cuijuan, sister of Pastor Zhang Shaojie, was sentenced to one and a half years in prison, while Zhao Junling was sentenced to one year in prison with a reprieve of two years, during which he will be under surveillance.
The hearing took place a day earlier than planned, meaning that Zhang Cuijuan’s lawyers were unable to attend. Zhao Junling reportedly dismissed his lawyers before the hearing in exchange for ‘leniency’. Zhang Cuijuan plans to appeal.
