A Chinese pastor is released after 7 years in prison, only to find himself unable to get an ID
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Chinese pastor John Sanqiang Cao, who was released from a seven-year prison sentence, faces continued restrictions in his homeland due to lack of legal documentation. He is unable to access basic services without a Chinese identification. Cao had dedicated his life to spreading Christianity in China, where the religion is strictly regulated. He had set up Bible study schools and brought Chinese missionaries to Myanmar. He was detained in 2017 and sentenced to seven years on a charge of "organising others to illegally cross the border." After completing his sentence, Cao is facing the obstacle of not having a hukou registration, which is needed to apply for a national ID card. He has sought help from the police but has not received a satisfactory answer. Cao wants to join his family in the US, but it is unclear how he can do that.

#China #Christianity #ReligiousFreedom #HumanRights

https://m.economictimes.com/news/international/world-news/a-chinese-pastor-is-released-after-7-years-in-prison-only-to-find-himself-unable-to-get-an-id/articleshow/108762984.cms