"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute." – Proverbs 31:8
The 37-year-old Shi Weihan (Chinese passport number G09812730) owns a bookshop in Beijing. He has been re-arrested for publishing Bibles and Christian literature. Earlier, Shi had spent a month in prison but was released in January 2007 due to 'insufficient evidence'.
Shi, a father of two, was re-arrested on 19 March and has been held without any family visits allowed. On 19 June, the three-month deadline for a hearing expired meaning that Shi's detention is now illegal under Chinese law.
Reports received indicate that Shi is being held at the Beijing Municipal Detention Centre charged with being a 'dangerous religious element'.
Shi's health is poor. He has diabetes and Public Security Bureau officials have been known to use deprivation and torture to force detainees to reveal information about others. Zhang Jing, Shi's wife, hasn't received word on her husband's condition and she has been prohibited from bringing him any medication, food or changes of clothing since his re-arrest.
Shi ran a Christian bookstore, a printing press and a travel agency. His bookstore operated legally and it only sold books for which he had obtained government permission.
His printing press, however, printed Bibles and Christian literature without authorisation for distribution to local home churches. Shi had no plans to protest during the Olympics; nor has he been in trouble before, either on account of his bookshop, which has all the proper paperwork, or because of his church links.
Click here to write a letter to the Chinese ambassador in the UK on his behalf.
All information from Open Doors
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