Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Chinese authorities have freed a 47-year-old Christian activist and church historian after forcing him to serve two years in a labour camp, China Aid Association, Texas-based rights group, said in a statement released on Wednesday September 28.

Officials at the Bailou Labour Camp at Pingdingshan city in Henan refused to confirm his release but said Zhang was once an inmate there.

Upon his release police took Zhang to a police station where he was instructed on what he may or may not say to the outside world, the Texas group said.

The local public security bureau also refused to return Zhangs his ID card in order to restrict his travel movements.

Zhang was arrested in September 2003 on a charge of "attempting to subvert the government" and later sentenced without trial to two years of "re-education through labour".

As a church leader, he was very active in promoting the unity of the Chinese 'house' church movement and gained respect among Christian circles but also suspicion from the government.

"House" or "underground" churches are those that are not registered with the government and refuse to submit to meddling by officials.

Zhang's case was brought to international attention, including that of the UN Commission on Human Rights' Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, which concluded his detention was arbitrary.