Finally free: Zhang Zhan released from prison

‘At 5am on 13 May, the police brought me to my brother’s home in Shanghai. Thank you for all your help and support… I really don’t know what else to say.’ 

Zhang Zhan, a ‘Wuhan whistleblower’, has finally been released from prison. The citizen journalist and human rights defender served a four-year sentence on charges of ‘picking quarrels and provoking trouble’– but she never should have spent a day in prison. Her only ‘crime’ was to seek the truth at all costs. 

Inspired by her Christian faith, Zhang went to Wuhan to report on the COVID-19 pandemic. She was arrested on 14 May 2020 and later sentenced in a closed-door trial, which lasted less than three hours.

During her time in prison, Zhang Zhan’s health became critical as she embarked on a hunger strike. It is a huge relief that her sentence is over, and the Chinese government must now ensure that she is fully free.

‘We should seek the truth and seek it at all costs. Truth has always been the most expensive thing in the world.’ – Zhang Zhan

MEXICO: Over 150 Protestant Christians displaced in Hidalgo State

We are continuing to advocate for over 150 Protestant Christians, including 75 children and infants, who were forcibly displaced from the villages of Rancho Nuevo and Coamila in April.

The families fled after village leaders cut off the electricity to their homes, vandalised their church, blocked access to some of their homes and posted guards at the village entry points. This was the culmination of ten years of FoRB violations affecting the religious minority, which have grown more severe over the years.

The displaced families have been pressured by the municipal government to sign illegal agreement, which would allow the village leaders – the perpetrators – to fine the victims 750,000 Mexican Pesos (about 31,000 pounds) based on each the date of each family’s conversion to Protestantism.

Although most of the families would be allowed to return – it would be under the same severe restrictions on their freedom of religion or belief and five families would be banned from returning altogether.

EGYPT: Church construction site attacked

There has been a concerning rise in attacks on churches and Christian homes in areas of Upper Egypt. In April, two villages in Minya Province saw attacks within days of each other. On 23 April extremists attacked the Christian community in Al-Fawakher village, following rumours that they were planning to build a church. Several homes belonging to Christians were destroyed during the violence.

Then on 26 April, a mob attacked the construction site of a new Evangelical church in Al-Kom Al-Ahmar village. Once built, the church will serve more than 2,000 Evangelical Christians in the area. The building’s foundations and sewage system were destroyed, and the mob also attacked properties belonging to Christians. Thankfully no one was hurt.

INDIA: Hundreds evicted from homes

Around 400 Muslim families were evicted from their homes in the Sipajhar region of Assam State on 20 May. The families received no warning before their homes were demolished by bulldozers.

This is the second time many of these families have been evicted. Many were also targeted in the same region in September 2021, when more than 1,000 homes were demolished, over 7,000 people were left homeless, and two Muslims were killed.

At the time, the government claimed that the eviction drive would make way for an experimental agricultural project. However, there is still no evidence of any agricultural development.

One of the victims told CSW that their community feels persecuted for their faith. ‘Why are only Muslim-dominated areas being targeted, why are only Muslim families being evicted?’ they said. ‘They simply want to get rid of us.’

NIGERIA: 24-year sentence reduced

An appeal court in Kano State has significantly reduced the 24-year sentence of Mubarak Bala, the president of the Nigerian Humanist Association. On 13 May judges unanimously found that his original sentence was excessive and reduced it to five years, meaning he now has one year left to serve.

Mr Bala has been unjustly detained since 28 April 2020 after being accused of insulting Islam in Facebook posts. He was held incommunicado for the first 162 days, and spent 462 days in prison before being formally charged. We continue to call for his immediate release, and for the repeal of Nigeria’s blasphemy law.