China Church Wins Rights to Property After Pastor's Wife Killed

Local authorities in China now admit that a property housing a church in Henan province belongs to the congregation and can now be used as a religious site.

The admission came after the pastor's wife was killed when workmen attempted to demolish the church building.

On April 14, Ding Cui Mei was buried alive as she tried to shield the church from bulldozers.

China Aid President Bob Fu said authorities made the right decision to resolve the land dispute, but he says those responsible for Ding's death must be held accountable and a fair investigation must be conducted for justice to prevail.

"While we are glad to see that the local authorities acted swiftly and fairly under international pressure to resolve the church's right to their land, we are concerned that justice for the family of the martyr is still not done," Fu said. 

Two members of the demolition crew were criminally detained at the time of the incident, but authorities have not released information about possible charges. 

"We appeal to the Chinese authorities to hold those criminal perpetrators accountable with a fair investigation and standard judicial process with full justice and unhindered legal representation by Beijing-based human rights lawyer Li Dunyong," Fu said.