Chinese Pastor Released After Four Years of Detention

Pastor Lian Xuliang of the unregistered Xi’an Church of Abundance has returned home following more than four years of detention. Lian was initially arrested in August 2022 alongside his father, Pastor Lian Changnian, and preacher Fu Juan. Authorities accused the trio of fraud and endangering national security after banning their congregation as an illegal social organization.

Rights groups, including the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, report that Lian was subjected to torture during his confinement. According to Church in Chains, the detainees were held in secret locations where they allegedly faced starvation, physical abuse, and forced drugging. While the status of the two co-defendants remains unclear, reports indicate that prosecutors attempted to build a fraud case by pressuring church members to testify against the leaders. One individual identified as an alleged victim later stated she was coerced into making accusations and has since sought to clear the pastors' names.