The pastor, Zhang Shaojie, and some of his aides were arrested a month ago and denied access to legal advisers. The local government has seized church land which was under the control of the pastor. Three lawyers and an assistant were at the pastor's house on Christmas Eve, discussing ways to assist him. One lawyer Xia Jun said: 'About 20 or so people had staked out the house overnight with lights and bonfires, and they used violence to prevent some of us from leaving, grabbing their clothes, taking their possessions such as bank cards and beating them.'  The 63-year old lawyer, Cheng Weishan, said: 'I thought they would have some limit when dealing with an elderly person like me, but they had none.'

Local support

Pastor Zhang has strong support among local people. Local Christians are particularly concerned as they say that the seizure of the land leaves them without a place to pray.  Calls for help to the police have not produced a response.  Source: Calgary Herald.