Source: www.ChinaAid.org
Date: January 13, 2022
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| Sister Zheng Jinmei, mother of Chen Yu (Photo: ChinaAid source) |
(Taizhou, Zhejiang Province—January 13, 2022) The verdict of the second trial of Chen Yu and “Xiaomai Bookstore” upheld its original sentencing. However, the verdict was first posted by an official WeChat account called “Zhejiang Crackdown on Pornography and Illegal Publications” on January 5, which is against the normal protocol that the court should inform the attorney. The official account belongs to Zhejiang Province's “Crackdown on Pornography and Illegal Publications” Office. The title of the news story about the Xiaomai Bookstore case is “Taizhou settles a case of illegal publication and business operation”, and the details are as follows:
Recently, the second trial of Chen Yu’s case of “illegal publication and business operation” was held at Zhejiang Province Taizhou Municipal Intermediate People’s Court, and the verdict sustains the original judgment of the 1st trial: Chen, the defendant, is sentenced to 7 years on a charge of illegal business operation and fined 200,000 yuan. It is affirmed that the defendant registered “Xiaomai Bookstore” at the e-commerce platform of Beijing Pocket Fashion Technology Co. Ltd. On April 12, 2016, it sold over 12,000 illegal publications without having the domestic legal CIP and import permission, and the illegal profit totaled over 200,000 yuan.
Zheng Jinmei, the mother of Chen Yu, contacted the defense lawyer right after seeing the news story circulating online, but the attorney said that he did not yet receive the verdict of the 2nd trial. He comforted Chen Yu’s mom, saying that he knows that they have difficulties with money.
The “Xiaomai Bookstore” case is a typical case of burning books and burying Christians alive. Chinese government tightens its control over Christian publications so that Christians living in mainland China have no access to relevant goods and new books. The books that Chen Yu sold are original books published by A Kernel of Wheat Christian Ministries based in the U.S. The publisher focuses on translating Christianity books and serving Chinese readers. Attorneys and Chen Yu’s parents provided sufficient evidence, proving excessive punishment for the first trial. Everyone was initially optimistic about the second trial.
Diagnosed with cancer after Chen’s arrest, Chen Yu’s father remained weak after chemotherapies. He converted to Christianity while battling cancer. Zheng Jinmei suffered a lot of health issues due to her son’s arrest. Last autumn, she underwent gastroscopy and colonoscopy. Her doctor removed a polyp in her stomach and discovered a cyst in her kidneys and hydronephrosis. Despite her circumstances, strived to serve and connect with Zhang Zhan’s mother via the Internet. They comforted each other, and Zheng Jinmei shared the gospel with Zhang Zhan’s mother.
Chen Yu’s parents were disillusioned and outraged after hearing the verdict of the 2nd trial, but Zheng Jinmei still showed up in a Christians’ prayer group the next morning and led others to pray. She prayed to God for the injustice her son has experienced, and she believes that God will never be wrong. If God allows Chen Yu to be imprisoned, God’s purpose must be to refine him, so she asked God to protect Chen. She also lifted up other pastors and Christians who are faithful to God but imprisoned and prayed for authorities. May God have mercy on the officials who did evil things and whose conscience is not awakened, and may they repent and turn to God. She promised to remain vigilant with her husband, not wasting time indulging themselves in self-pity. Rather, they will depend on God and be strong and joyful. She prayed in tears:
“Dear God, I cry because of you, we kneel before you for those brothers and sisters who are imprisoned. We know a lot of souls in prison long for your gospel and need your grace. Lord, you use these pastors, elders, your daughters and sons including Chen Yu, let them become your lamp in prison and lighten up the dark place.”
~ Yu Bing, ChinaAid Contributing Reporter
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