Praying for the Two Michaels

 

Michael Kovrig (pictured with his wife, Vina Nadjibulla) has been detained in China since 2018. His trial occurred inal in Beijing today. Photograph: Family photo/AFP/Getty Images

In recent weeks I've been praying for the two Michaels, Spavor and Kovrig, aware that their "trials" were looming. These two Canadians have been incarcerated in China for more than two years on trumped up espionage charges. Their arrests were retaliation for the detention of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in Canada. She was been treated with respect under excellent conditions, has been visited by family, and had legal representation in a court of law. The Canadians have lived in deplorable circumstances and are being tried without consular support and in legal system with a 99% conviction rate. 

During Spavor's trial on Friday and Kovrig's today diplomats from Canada and 20 other countries gathered outside the courtrooms as a witness against these proceedings and the exclusion of diplomatic support. Both of these kangaroo courts were brief and verdicts withheld, for the time being.

As concerned as we are for these Canadian citizens, there are hundreds of other foreigners who are being held in Chinese prisons. The totalitarian government has become more dismissive of international law and agreements in the past decade. 

In addition, hundreds of thousands of Chinese Uighurs are in detention camps, tortured and brain-washed. They are drilled to renounce their religion, including public prayer and put their faith in “Xi Jinping Thought” rather than the Koran. Christians have been harassed and persecuted as well. 

The hope is that if the Michaels are convicted they might be expelled from China on medical grounds or some other reason. It's important that there has been vocal and concerted censure from other nations including the United States, but China doesn't respond readily to pressure.

So, will our prayers make any difference? I figure we can't stop until they are reunited with their families.