Rome (AsiaNews) - Hebei priests and faithful are eagerly awaiting the return of their bishops and priests who have disappeared in police custody for years. From 1st January 2013, their hope of seeing their pastors, some detainees without trial for 15 years and more, it also has a legal basis.

Since the beginning of this year, in fact, the reformed penal code has passed into law which, at least in intention, aims to "respect and protect human rights." An example of this is that under the new law no one should be forced to incriminate themselves and all arrests must be based on evidence "obtained in a legal manner", i.e. not through torture.

The law also ensures immediate access to a lawyer within 48 hours of a request being made, and that the relatives of the suspect are to be informed of the circumstances and place of detention.  Moreover during the period of detention, the suspect must be guaranteed an adequate diet and sleep. Finally, the police can not detain a person without charge for more than six months.

A Hebei priest told AsiaNews that under these new laws, enacted in the era of Xi Jinping, Msgr. James Su Zhimin, the underground bishop of Baoding (ds in the photo), 80, who disappeared in police custody 15 years ago, should be able to return home. His family every year, on the anniversary of his kidnapping, ask the police where their relative is being held, as of this year they will finally have an answer different from the one received in the past ("We do not know!") .

There is also "legal" hope for Msgr. Cosma Shi Enxiang, 90 years old, underground bishop of Yixian (left in photo). Arrested by police and detained without trial since 2001, according to the new laws he should be able to return to his family and its dynamic diocese.

Hope for all the priests arrested and sentenced to forced labor without trial: last year AsiaNews listed at least six. Among these, the most prominent personality is certainly Fr. Joseph Lu clergyman, vicar general of the underground diocese of Baoding (Hebei), missing in the hands of the police since February 17, 2006. His faithful await his return. They have told AsiaNews : "If he is not released, this would be unfair, under the new law, they must at least say where he is secluded and grant us the right to go and visit him."

Other church figures do not share the enthusiasm of these faithful in Hebei. They point out that the new legislation does not assert the independence of the judiciary from the Communist Party, which still oversees the application of each law. And they recall that in 2004 there was the amendment to the constitution to include the phrase "respect for and protection of human rights." But since then nothing has changed.