Li Shanshan, the wife of Pastor Li Jie of Linfen Covenant House Church in northeast China’s Shanxi province, has spoken out about the mistreatment of her husband in prison. On 13 December she wrote a letter to the authorities of Taiyuan No. 2 Prison, where he is being held, and shared it with human rights organisations – see the text of her letter below.

Li Shanshan (pictured in November 2023 outside the Yaodu District Detention Centre, where her husband was previously held) protests that he is being given inadequate food and rest, and that the prison has failed to provide him with basic necessities such as toilet paper, soap, a toothbrush and a towel.

Her letter followed a recent visit to the prison when she was accompanied by her children and Li Jie’s mother; it was several months since their previous visit. She saw her husband through glass and said he looked thinner and more haggard than before, but remained calm. They spoke via phone and the call was automatically disconnected after ten minutes because, as a newly-transferred inmate of the prison, Li Jie’s visit time was limited to ten minutes. His prison labour consists of operating a sewing machine, sewing cuffs and collars, and if he fails to meet his quota, his washing time is reduced. He told his family that “the meals are plentiful and warm” and that the prison has provided four sets of clothing, but that his daily necessities come with the help of fellow inmates.

Background

Linfen pastors Li Jie (pictured) and Han Xiaodong and elder Wang Qiang were detained after over one hundred police officers raided a church camp in August 2022. They were charged with “fraud” in relation to the collection of donations from church members – a common charge against leaders of unregistered churches in China. In June 2025, after nearly three years in detention, Li Jie and Han Xiaodong were sentenced to 3 years and 8 months in prison and Wang Qiang was sentenced to 1 year and 11 months in prison.

Following the raid, authorities questioned many members of the large, unregistered church in an attempt to gather evidence and false testimony against the detained leaders and some members were pressurised by their employers and families to say they were victims of fraud.

Li Shanshan’s letter

1. I respectfully request that Taiyuan No. 2 Prison strictly enforce the provisions of the Prison Law of the People’s Republic of China, ensuring that all inmates – including my husband, Li Jie – are granted family visits lasting thirty minutes to one hour. This is not merely my plea; it is the prison’s own publicly stated policy, and it is enshrined in Article 40 of the Prison Law: “Prisoners may meet with relatives or guardians, generally once a month, each visit lasting thirty minutes to one hour.” Yet, Taiyuan No. 2 Prison has reduced the visiting time for new arrivals to a mere ten minutes. Such an internal regulation contradicts the very law it is meant to serve. Internal rules should uphold justice and goodness, not undermine the law itself.

2. Since Li Jie was transferred to Taiyuan No. 2 Prison on October 29, he has been deprived of the most basic necessities: no toilet paper, no soap, no towel, no toothbrush. I urge the prison to process Li Jie’s “white list” registration immediately. On the day of my visit, I personally submitted the required documents to the staff of the Fifth Prison District. Until the procedure is completed, I ask that the prison provide Li Jie with the essential daily items required under the Prison Law: a toothbrush, toothpaste, a towel, soap, laundry powder, and toilet paper. 

3. Li Jie’s health is deteriorating. When I saw him, he had lost nearly twenty pounds [nine kilos] compared to his time in the detention centre. He told me that his life in prison consists only of eating, sleeping, and working endlessly at the sewing machine – without time for exercise or reading. The prison’s limited space offers no opportunity for inmates to move or breathe freely. I implore the prison to improve his diet and ensure he can rest properly. 

4. Li Jie told me he wrote me a letter in early November. To this day, I have not received it. I ask the prison to guarantee his right to communication and to ensure that letters are delivered.

5. I request that the prison expedite the processing of the “family number” so that Li Jie can exercise his right to phone calls with his loved ones. 

6. I ask that the prison allow Li Jie to read the Bible. I am prepared to send one to him by mail. Li Jie is a full-time pastor of the Covenant Home Church in Linfen, Shanxi. He was arrested on August 19, 2022, solely for his faith in Jesus, and sentenced to three years and eight months. On October 29, 2025, he was transferred to Taiyuan No. 2 Prison. I have been separated from my husband for three years and four months. After travelling four exhausting hours to see him, I was given only ten minutes. His face was gaunt, weary, and oppressed. My heart broke.

I earnestly ask all brothers and sisters to pray for Li Jie: that he will not be bullied, that his basic needs will be met, and that the Holy Spirit will comfort him daily. I believe our Heavenly Father will hear the prayers of many.

I hope that when I see Li Jie next month, conditions will have improved. 

Signed: Li Shanshan, wife of Li Jie. Saturday, December 13, 2025.

(Bitter Winter, China Aid)

Photos: China Aid