Jailed pastor's family escapes from China to the US after 'harassment by authorities'
Zhang's daughter, son-in-law and grandchild spirited out of the country by activists via Southeast Asia
Three family members of jailed pastor Zhang Shaojie have sneaked out of China to the United States with the help of activists after complaining about an extended campaign of harassment by the authorities, a Christian rights group said yesterday.
Zhang’s daughter, son-in-law and one-year-old grandchild landed in Dallas, Texas, and have now gone to Midland, according to US-based China Aid.
The group said an underground network of activists helped the three leave China via Southeast Asia.
Zhang’s church is sanctioned by the communist government, which allows worship only in state-monitored groups, but was involved in a dispute with local authorities over land for a new building.
While land disputes are common in the mainland, Zhang’s popularity prompted other Christians to rally around him to defend what they say is religious freedom.
China Aid founder Bob Fu said that after Zhang was sentenced, his elderly parents received threats and were harassed, his daughter’s car was kept by police and Nanle officials mobilised different government agencies to write to the court to ask for a longer sentence.