EXTEND THE AXIS:

Chinese Christian leader jailed for life (AP, October 10, 2002)

The leader of a banned Christian sect whose death sentence was overturned for lack of evidence has been convicted on different charges and sentenced to life in prison, a human rights group reported.

The second trial came after an appellate court decision to overturn the initial death sentences -- an extraordinary move in a communist country where religion is tightly controlled and worship permitted only in the government-sanctioned church.

Gong Shengliang, initially convicted on cult charges, was found guilty of rape and battery in a second trial at the Jingmen Intermediate Court, according to the Information Center for Human Rights and Democracy, based in Hong Kong.

Two other sect leaders were sentenced to life for battery, and two others were given 15-year sentences on the same charges. The defendants immediately said they would appeal, the center said.

Nothing brings greater shame upon Republicans than the willingness of the business wing of the party to accept every barbarity of the Chinese government just because they have wet dreams about the size of its "markets". Posted by Orrin Judd at October 13, 2002 3:52 PM