On September 11, the Hohhot Intermediate People’s Court in Inner Mongolia upheld prison sentences and fines against 10 Christians for distributing legally published Bibles, ruling that their actions constituted an “illegal business operation.” The believers were arrested in 2021 for purchasing Bibles and reselling them at low prices as a means of evangelism. Authorities argued the distribution was unlawful because their house church was not registered and refused to join the state-sanctioned Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM).

Despite their testimony that the sales were not profit-driven but purely evangelistic, the court handed down sentences ranging from one to five years in prison, alongside heavy fines. Liberty Counsel and defense attorneys urged the government to respect the believers’ faith, pointing out their positive impact on families and students in their community. Still, the appeals court confirmed the original ruling, leaving the 10 Christians imprisoned and fined for their commitment to sharing God’s Word.

SOURCE: ICC