Sept. 2 pretrial conference and Sept. 16 trial place due process and treatment of peaceful religious believers under immediate scrutiny
WASHINGTON, Sept. 1, 2026 — The Free China Movement calls on authorities in Kunming to guarantee full due process, meaningful access to defense counsel, necessary medical care and protection of peaceful religious practice as three members of Kunming’s Century New Town Church approach a Sept. 2 pretrial conference and Sept. 16 trial.
ChinaAid and Chinese rights-monitoring sources report that preacher Yu Shaolin and church members Li Qun and Luo Ping were detained following an April 12 church gathering and later formally arrested in May on suspicion of “organizing illegal gatherings.” They remain in custody, according to those reports.
Peaceful worship and religious association should not be treated as criminal conduct without a clear, publicly supportable legal basis. The proceedings therefore deserve close scrutiny for both freedom-of-religion and due-process concerns.
The Sept. 2 proceeding is expected to address pretrial procedural matters before the scheduled Sept. 16 trial. FCM urges the authorities to ensure that the defendants can consult their lawyers meaningfully and confidentially, challenge the evidence against them, communicate lawfully with their families, and receive necessary medical evaluation and treatment.
ChinaAid reports, based on church information, that Yu suffers from chronic health conditions requiring continuing medication. These medical details have not been independently verified by FCM and remain explicitly attributed to the reporting sources.
The Sept. 2 pretrial conference is therefore consequential in its own right. Meaningful access to counsel, the ability to challenge evidence, family communication and necessary medical care are part of assessing whether the Sept. 16 trial can be regarded as fair.
The Free China Movement calls for meaningful and confidential access to defense counsel; necessary and timely medical care; lawful family communication and access; a genuine opportunity to challenge evidence and procedural irregularities; public and fair proceedings consistent with recognized due-process standards; and release of any defendant if the prosecution cannot establish recognizable criminal conduct through a fair and transparent process.
The broader question is whether law will protect peaceful religious practice and procedural rights or be used to punish independent belief. The answer should be visible in the handling of evidence, counsel, medical care and the public conduct of the proceedings.
FCM will continue monitoring the Sept. 2 pretrial conference and the Sept. 16 trial and will update its public response if new verified information emerges.
Sources
ChinaAid — China house church members face trial amid detention, health concerns
Related News: Kunming House Church Case Moves to Court: Pretrial Conference Sept. 2, Trial Sept. 16
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