“No toilet paper, no soap, no towel, no toothbrush.” He is compelled to “work endlessly at the sewing machine” with “no opportunity to move or breathe.”
by Dong Quiyue
In August 2022, police stormed a parent–child camp organized by Linfen’s Covenant Home Church of Linfen City, Shanxi. What began as a raid soon escalated into a campaign of dismantling: Pastor Li Jie and Elder Han Xiaodong were arrested in October, Elder Wan Qiang followed on November 9, and by November 16, the church itself was officially “liquidated.”
As “Bitter Winter” reported, verdicts against members of the Golden Lampstand Church, another targeted house church in Linfen, were handed down on June 20. Just days later, Pastor Li Jie and Elder Han Xiaodong of Covenant Home Church were sentenced in a separate case. Their punishment—three years and eight months—exceeded the three years agreed upon during trial. Elder Wan Qiang received one year and eleven months. The charge was “fraud,” the all-too-familiar accusation wielded against house churches that refuse to bend the knee to the state-controlled Three-Self Church.
On December 13, Li Jie’s wife, Li Shanshan, broke her silence. She penned a letter to the authorities of Taiyuan No. 2 Prison, where her husband is held, and shared it with human rights organizations. It is a cry for dignity, justice, and the bare essentials of human life. The text of her letter follows.
“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 compared to his time in the detention center. 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 traveling 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.”
Uses a pseudonym for security reasons.
