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The end of this week marks Chinese New Year, and the end of what has been another year of harassment and uncertainty for many of Chinas human rights defenders. As a new year starts in China, please pray that it would bring with it justice and freedom for all China’s citizens.

In October 2016 CSW supporters gathered outside the Chinese embassy in London to protest the imprisonment of Li Heping (pictured), a Christian human rights lawyer who has been in prison since July 2015. Today, please pray that he would be released soon.

During the protest we read out a message from Wang Qiaoling, Li Heping’s wife. “I will speak up not only for my husband, but for all the people that ‘fall down’ in front of me. It is your action that encouraged me.” Let’s ask God for bravery and protection for Wang Qiaoling and her family today.

Alimujiang Yimiti is a Christian from the Uyghur ethnic group, who has been in prison since 2003 – an imprisonment that the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concluded was ‘solely because of his faith’. He has a wife and a young son whom he sees only very rarely. Please pray that Alim and his family would be reunited soon.

In September 2016 the UK government expressed concerns about restrictions on freedom of religion or belief in China: an encouraging development following Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to the UK. Thank God for this development today, and pray that it would have positive consequences for how the Chinese government treats its people.

Human rights lawyer Zhang Kai was released in March 2016 after being detained in August 2015 for his work defending human rights. Though he made a televised confession, some believe he was coerced into doing this. Please pray for Zhang Kai’s safety today.

Christians aren’t the only group at risk. Tibetan Buddhists, Uyghur Muslims and Falun Gong practitioners are all targets for government harassment, suffering imprisonment and torture just because of what they believe. Please pray for them today.

God, at Chinese New Year we pray for everyone in China who is at risk because of their beliefs. May the coming year bring them peace and safety, we pray. Amen.