ExclusiveTiananmen dissident quits church over extramarital sex; denies raping activist Chai Ling
A Tiananmen Square dissident has resigned from his US ministry and begged forgiveness for an extramarital affair after being accused of raping fellow 1989 activist Chai Ling.
A Tiananmen Square dissident who became a prominent voice in the global Chinese Christian community has resigned from his US ministry and begged forgiveness after being accused of raping fellow 1989 activist and Christian convert Chai Ling.
Yuan Zhiming - who admits “extramarital sexual iniquity” with Chai but denies raping her - quit all religious duties with the China Soul For Christ Foundation on the weekend amid intense pressure over Chai’s allegation, which dates back to 1990 when both were at Princeton University under a programme for June 4 dissidents.
Chai says Yuan raped her in her New Jersey apartment after inviting himself over and showing her a pornographic film.
The accusations have roiled the Chinese Christian community in North America since last month, when a group of 18 ethnic Chinese pastors published a lengthy investigation of Yuan’s behaviour. The pastors also raised new accusations of sexual misconduct by Yuan in their February 23 report.
“I do admit that I am a sinner, and it was by the grace of God that I am what I am,” Yuan said in a statement issued in English on Tuesday, hours after The South China Morning Post approached China Soul for an interview with Yuan.