The Epoch Times
Dec 23, 2009

Christmas is just around the corner, but for some Christians in northern China there isn’t much to celebrate.

In November, five religious leaders in Linfen City, Shanxi Province, were sentenced to three to seven years criminal detention. They were found guilty of “illegally occupying farm land” and “disturbing transportation through a mass gathering.” The trial followed a mass prayer by members of the Linfen-Fushan Church.

And later in the month—according to U.S.-based rights group ChinaAid—an additional five more church leaders were sent to two years reform-through-labor. It’s an arbitrary administrative sentence that doesn’t require a trial.     more …