Beijing (AsiaNews / Agencies) - In jail since
2001, Pastor Gong Shengliang,
leader of the evangelical South China
Church (SCC), is dying in prison as a result of torture and lack of care. The
news was reported by his daughter Gong Huali, who
recently sent an open letter to
President Xi Jinping, to demand her father's release. "My
father - the text reads - was arrested because
of his faith in Jesus Christ.
When he was arrested, he suffered many savage
tortures. He was imprisoned in a very damp area for the first two years, which
led to severe rheumatism and gastroenteritis".
The government banned the SCC in 2001, defining it an "evil cult", condemning pastor
Gong to death for launching
attacks against the state. Due to
pressure of several international
organizations, the court did not carry out the sentence.
In 2002 the judges succeeded in framing
Gong accusing him of raping other prisoners and sentencing him to life imprisonment. In these 10 years, his
health has deteriorated due to
constant torture. According to
the daughter the prison officials have
never provided any medical assistance.
At the time of the Gong's arrest,
the SCC had over 50 thousand faithful
scattered throughout the country.
In a few months, the authorities carried out multiple arrests, incarcerating
more than 500 religious leaders and
seizing their property. In these 12 years,
thousands of members have been harassed,
beaten and forced to pay fines for
clandestine meetings.