Protestant lawyer arrested after battling Chinese cross removals

A Protestant lawyer has been detained by police after launching a legal fight against Chinese authorities responsible for removing thousands of church crosses in Zhejiang province.  Lawyer Zhang Kai and his intern assistant Liu Peng were detained after police reportedly jumped a wall at Xialing Church in Wenzhou during the night of Aug. 25.   "We can imagine that police have lost control of their emotions because churches are now using the law to defend their rights," said Luke, a Protestant pastor in Wenzhou who gave only his Christian name.   

A dozen Protestant pastors were also summoned or detained by police over the past two days, including Wei Wenhai of Tengqiao church, who recently publicized his mobile phone number so journalists could report on Christian persecution.  Only one of the pastors has been freed so far. Wei’s mobile was not contactable on Aug. 27.  The police response follows Zhang’s recent legal challenges against Zhejiang authorities amid a campaign that has seen more than 1,200 Christian crosses removed since the end of 2013.

Xinqiao Law Firm in Beijing, which employs Zhang and Liu, issued a statement protesting their arrests and demanding their immediate release.  "He has fulfilled all the requirements to take over the cases. Liu, an intern lawyer, also has valid legal accreditation to practice," it said.  Zhang had left Beijing to work on cross-removal cases full time in Wenzhou and last month started a new group: Lawyers for the Protection of the Cross. In a bold statement issued in July, Zhang promised legal action against authorities in Huzhou, northern Zhejiang, following a notice to remove the cross of a local church.   (Source: UCAN)