China jails Christian pastor who fought church demolitions

A Chinese preacher who opposed an “anti-church” demolition campaign that saw hundreds of places of worship partially or completely destroyed has been jailed for one year on charges supporters claim are trumped up.
Huang Yizi, 40, was sentenced before a packed courtroom on Tuesday afternoon for “gathering crowds to disturb social order,” Zhang Kai, his lawyer, said.
“I think the whole trial was manipulated by the authorities,” Mr Zhang told The Telegraph, adding that his client would appeal.
The lawyer said around 1,000 Christian supporters gathered outside the court in Pingyang County in the eastern province of Zhejiang. He met his the pastor before the hearing and believed “his state of mind was good”.

 

Read More: China jails Christian pastor who fought church demolitions – Telegraph