Gender: Male
Current Location: Weibei Prison, Shandong
Perpetrator: China
Ethnic Group: Han
Religion or Belief: Christian – Church of Almighty God
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Rejected
Sentence: 10 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: October/24/2017
Date of Sentencing: August/8/2018
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Possession of Religious Materials Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Cult
Yao Shuzhi is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.
On October 24, 2017, officers from the National Security Brigade of the Heze Public Security Bureau Mudan Branch detained Yao and two others reportedly in relation to their religious belief. Yao was writing a script for the church when authorities raided his location. Police reportedly seized religious materials, electronics, and other items.
On August 8, 2018, the Mudan District People’s Court of Heze city sentenced Yao to ten years in prison and fined him 50,000 yuan for "organizing or using a cult to undermine implementation of the law" (Art. 300 CCL).
On an unspecified date, the Heze Intermediate People’s Court of Shandong province rejected Yao's appeal.
Yao is believed to be serving his sentence at Weibei Prison, Shandong.
"Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison for Their Belief" Bitter Winter
China Prisoners Database Details: YAO Shuzhi Human Rights Without Frontiers
"Cases of Arbitrary Arrest and Detention of CAG Christians by CCP" Association for the Defense of Human Rights and Religious Freedom