Gender: Male

Perpetrator: China

Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant

Health Concerns: Severe back pain, headaches, inflammation, dental issues, weight loss

Reports of Medical Neglect: Yes

Appeal: Rejected

Sentence: 7 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: March/5/2017

Date of Sentencing: March/22/2018

Date of Release: March//2024

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Humanitarian Work & Charitable Activities Religious Activity Religious Belief Religious Identity

Nature of Charges: Illegal Migration & Entry/Exit of Country

John Cao

Extra Bio Info:

John Cao was imprisoned because of his religious identity and missionary work.

On March 5, 2017, the Menglian County Police of Yunnan Province detained Cao, a pastor, humanitarian worker, and U.S. permanent resident, on the border between China and Burma, where he had engaged in humanitarian work since 2013. Human rights activists believed Cao was targeted for his religion since among the individuals crossing the border in Cao's group, only Cao and his other Christian colleague were detained. 

On March 28, 2017, Cao was formally arrested and charged with "illegally crossing the border" (Art. 322 CCL).

On March 22, 2018, Cao was sentenced to seven years in prison for allegedly “organizing illegal border crossings.”

On July 25, 2019, the Pu’er Intermediate Court upheld his conviction and sentence.

In September 2019, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concluded that Cao "was singled out due to his Christian faith and that the Measures were implemented against him in a manner that constituted profiling and discrimination on the basis of Mr. Cao’s religious identity."

In March 2024, Cao was released from prison after completing his sentence.

Cao was reportedly forced to live in inhumane living conditions and been denied medical adequate care. He reportedly suffers from severe back pain, headaches, inflammation, and dental issues and has experienced significant weight loss. 

Cao is married with two children. His wife and children are U.S. citizens. 

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) advocated for Cao as part of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission's Defending Freedoms Project.

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