HUMAN RIGHTS: RAID OF HOUSE CHURCH AND DETENTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 001058

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/17/2016
TAGS: PHUM KIRF PGOV CH
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS: RAID OF HOUSE CHURCH AND DETENTION
OF LAWYER GAO ZHISHENG RAISED WITH MFA


Classified By: Political Section Internal Unit Chief
Kin W. Moy. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) On January 17, poloff conveyed to MFA Human
Rights Division official Wang Gang USG concern about
recent reports that the Beijing Ark House Church was
raided on January 8 and 15, and reports that defense
lawyer Gao Zhisheng was detained on January 13. Wang
agreed to inquire about the events with relevant
ministries.


2. (C) On January 17, Yu Jie, a church member and the
owner of the apartment in which the Beijing Ark House
Church meets, informed poloff of the details of a
report circulated by U.S.-based NGO China Aid
Association about raids on the church. On January 8,
security officials approached the church after its
Sunday service and accused officials of disturbing
neighbors, Yu said. On January 15, the officials
entered the apartment during the service and
aggressively disrupted it, stating that the meeting
was an illegal religious gathering. Among those in
attendance at the time were activist lawyers Gao
Zhisheng and Li Baiguang and former Beijing University
professor Jiao Guobiao. No one was detained in either
incident.


3. (C) Separately, poloff confirmed that defense
lawyer to Christian and Falun Gong activists Gao
Zhisheng was released January 13 after being detained
and questioned for several hours. Gao was hesitant to
speak by phone, but later sent a text message
indicating that security officials had urged him to
avoid contact with foreigners. Yu Jie told poloff he
did not believe Gao's troubles and the raid on the
house church were linked.
Randt