Danish European Mission now continues the letter writing campaign for Alimjan. In 2008, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison in western China.
Alim converted from Islam to the Christian faith
Alimjan is a Uyghur. The Uighurs are a Turkic minority in the western Xinjiang province of China who are mainly Sunni Muslims. Alimjan converted from Islam to Christianity in 1995 and was the pastor of a growing congregation before he was imprisoned. There are very few Christians among the Uighurs, and the few that are there are persecuted far more than Christians in the eastern part of China, who in recent years have experienced an increasing degree of freedom to practice their faith.
In 2007, police shut down the foreign company Alimjan worked for, accusing him of using the company as a cover to "preach Christianity." He was charged in January 2008 with endangering state security and arrested on February 20, 2008, accused of "inciting the secession" of Xinjiang province from China and "leaking state secrets." He received the maximum possible sentence of 15 years.
Family, friends and colleagues say that Alimjan is a loyal citizen with no access to state secrets and that his imprisonment is due to his Christian faith and cooperation with foreign Christians. He is serving his sentence simply because he boldly confesses his faith in Jesus and puts it into practice.
Letters encourage prisoners - and put pressure on authorities
Alimjan will be encouraged and comforted by the letters, and it will be visible to the authorities that many Christians are standing with them and praying for them. This can contribute to the early release of unjustly imprisoned people. That's why it's important that you write.
