Mr. Zhang Yi-nan who it said was badly beaten by fellow inmates last week on the first day of his two-year sentence in a labor camp.
VOM, a leading human rights organization investigating the plight of the persecuted church, also urged spiritual support for relatives of 33-year old Christian Ms. Zhang Hong-mei, who it claimed died last month after being tortured by police, causing a street protest.
Chinese authorities have not yet reacted to the charges, but officials have spoken about Zhang Yi-nan who they claim was guilty of "anti-Party, anti-Socialist" writings in his personal prayer journal, as he "asked the Lord to destroy the strongholds in China."
VOM said Tuesday, November 11, that Zhang was beaten last Monday at the Ping Ding Shan City Lao Dong Jiao Yang Suo during his " first day as an inmate at the "re-education through labor" facility."
"SYMPATHETIC OFFICIAL"
The organization said its sources learned from an unidentified "sympathetic official at the camp," that "Zhang was beaten by fellow inmates at the behest of prison guards, who considered the beating to be "Lesson One" in his so-called re-education."
"Zhang Yi-nan is a strong man," the official was quoted as saying, "but he was terribly beaten. His hands were bleeding badly."
Zhang, who played a key role in the growing house churches, was arrested September 26, and sentenced last weekend to two years of "re-education through labor." His wife was allowed to see him briefly last Monday before he was driven to the labor camp, VOM said.
"NO EXCUSE"
"There is no excuse for this welcoming committee for Brother Zhang," added VOM spokesman Todd Nettleton in a statement send to ASSIST News Service ANS). "Yet this is business-as-usual for Chinese Christians. We urge Christians around the world to pray for Zhang’s safety, and that he will have many opportunities to witness for Christ."
Besides prayers, the organization said it is asking believers to send a note of encouragement to Zhang’s current address in the prison camp:
Zhang Yi-nan
Ping Ding Shan City Lao Dong Jiao Yang Suo
Pei De School
Ping Ding Shan City, Henan Province, 467300
People’s Republic of China
News about the beatings came as family and friends mourned the death of Zhang Hong-mei, who was arrested October 29th for her faith in Christ by local police in Dong Miao Dong village in Jiu Dian Town near Ping Du City in Shandong Province, VOM explained.
POLICE BRIBE
"At 2 p.m. on the day of her arrest, her family was called by police and told to pay a bribe of 3,000 RMB (about $400 US). The family couldn’t raise that money, so at 7 p.m. Hong-mei’s husband, Xu Feng-hai and her brother went to the PSB station to request her release."
However "they saw her, bound with heavy chains to the so-called "tiger bench," VOM said adding that it has learned she "was visibly wounded, and could not speak to" the family.
"The following afternoon the family was called to the (Public Security Bureau) PSB station, where they were told that Hong-mei had died that day at noon. An autopsy showed numerous wounds to her face, hands and leg, and serious internal bleeding."
LARGE PROTEST
In an apparently daring sign of defiance, about 1,000 people joined in a protest march in front of city offices the following day, as the family went to city officials to request an inquiry, VOM reported.
"Our hearts go out to this Christian family," said Nettleton. "We join them in asking for an investigation into this incident. We also thank God for the example of Chinese Christians like Zhang Hong-mei, who are ready to die rather than deny their faith in Christ."
Church sources and human rights watchers have linked the persecution of Christians to fear among Chinese Communist officials of the growing number of believers in China, which is said to experience the largest church growth in the world.
