Police detain lawyers as Chinese house church pastor Gao Quanfu's fraud trial ends without verdict
Ten-hour hearing in Xi'an concluded without a sentence as authorities classify voluntary church offerings as fraud.
Chinese police blocked Christians and human rights lawyers from observing the conclusion of the trial of house church pastor Gao Quanfu, 69, of Light of Zion Church. The approximately 10-hour hearing took place at the Beilin District People's Court in Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi Province.
Gao faces fraud charges involving church offerings, with prosecutors seeking a 12- to 13-year prison sentence. The prosecution has raised religious freedom concerns because authorities classify voluntary contributions from church members as fraudulently obtained funds.
During Thursday's proceedings, scores of uniformed and plainclothes officers surrounded the courthouse. Attorneys barred from entering included Bao Longjun, Wang Yu, Jiang Tianyong, Peng Yonghe, and disbarred lawyer Lu Siwei. Wang and Lu were taken into police custody.
Wang stated that police stopped her for an identification check and took her to a nearby lobby, where she witnessed officers dragging and kicking Lu. Police issued an administrative summons against Wang on suspicion of disrupting public order.
