In a stunning act of cruelty, China has arrested a peaceful 40 year old nun for simply traveling to Christian holy sites.
According to a China Aid report, Sister Xiang Qiaoyun lead a group of about 20 Christians on summer holiday to see Christian sites in France and Italy in June. Although Sister Xiang’s travel was legal tourism and obtained the appropriate visas for Europe, she was arrested on her return to China for “illegal exit” because she didn’t get Beijing’s permission to leave the country for “religious pilgrimage.”
Observers note the absurdity of such charges that has led China to throw a nun into prison for simply visiting places that are important to her faith while legally traveling on tourist visa. Sister Xiang and her group did not break any laws. They obtained all the of the appropriate visas, but the Chinese government demands that she should have gone to the local police station and obtained permission to visit Christian locations while on her holiday with fellow travelers.
This logic of a “faith crime” raises concerns that China is systematically reframing religious freedom for Chinese even when they are out of the country. It highlights how Chinese citizens are monitored even as they travel to other nations.
This heinous miscarriage of justice exposes Beijing’s weaponization of faith.
At the writing of this, Sister Xiang is still in prison and could face seven years to life imprisonment.
How can we help our dear Christian sister?