The US-based China Aid Association (CAA) said the 35-year-old former employee of Xinjiang Pacific Agricultural Resources Development Company Ltd, who authorities identified as Mr. Wusimanyiming, was arrested in November in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
The Christian American businessman was expelled from China and his company shut down pending further investigation, CAA said. Other Christian-owned firms in China have faced similar problems in recent months, BosNewsLife established.
Officials have accused Wusimanyiming, who is of China’s Uyghur ethnic minority, of "assisting foreigners in illegal activities from March of 1998 through April of 2004," according to official documents released by CAA and seen by BosNewsLife. These illegal activities allegedly included the releasing of government secrets and documents.
OUTSPOKEN CHRISTIAN
However, "The reason for Mr. Wusimanyiming’s arrest and sentencing seems far more likely stem from the fact that his employer is a foreign businessman and outspoken Christian," CAA said.
"How an ordinary citizen without admittance to privileged information, gained access to government secrets and documents is a question that begs to be answered."
CAA said that the "unjustifiable arrest" further "illustrates the efforts of the Chinese government to curtail the spread of Christianity within China." Wusimanyiming has 60 days to appeal his two-year labor sentence. Beijing Christian lawyer, Zhang Kai was to represent him with his legal appeal.
