A/HRC/10/8/Add.1 page 13 Observations 41. The Special Rapporteur is grateful that the Government of China replied to the joint urgent appeal of 9 April 2008 and she hopes to be able to make observations on the response in the next report summarizing the cases transmitted to Governments and replies received. Urgent appeal sent on 22 May 2008 jointly with the Chairperson-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention 42. The Special Procedures mandate holders brought to the attention of the Government information they had received in relation to Mr. Lou Yuanqi, a pastor and house church leader in Qingshuihe Town, Huocheng County in Xinjiang province, detained on a charge relating to separatism. Reportedly, Mr. Lou Yuanqi was summoned by the State Security Bureau to Qingshuihe Township Police Station at 1.00 p.m. on Friday 16 May 2008, and interrogated for an hour. At 11.30 p.m. he was transferred to Huocheng County Detention Centre on a charge relating to separatism. 43. Mr. Lou Yuanqi had been previously arrested on several occasions. On 20 October 2006, Mr. Lou Yuanqi and three other pastors were detained for organising a house church and held for 32 days, during which time they were allegedly beaten by guards and inmates. Mr. Lou Yuanqi’s 16 year-old daughter was detained on 28 February 2008 for a day, together with ten other minors, when they were attending a Bible study for children. This is the latest in a series of ongoing targeted actions against the small Christian minority in Xinjiang. It was reported in the previous month that Chinese Government officials had supposedly launched a strategic campaign, allegedly called the “Anti-illegal Christian Activities Campaign”. Pastor Lou’s case seems to be the second time the Chinese Government is using separatist charges against a house church leader, as the organization Uyghur Christian Alimujiang Yimiti faces trial the following week on charges of endangering national security. Concern was expressed that the detention of Mr. Lou Yuanqi may be directly related to his peaceful religious activities. Observations 44. The Special Rapporteur regrets that she has not received a reply from the Government of China concerning the above mentioned allegations. She would like to refer to General Assembly resolution 63/181 which urges States to “step up their efforts to protect and promote freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief, and to this end to ensure that no one within their jurisdiction is deprived of the right to life, liberty or security of person because of religion or belief and that no one is subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment or arbitrary arrest or detention”. Similarly, the Human Rights Council resolution 6/37 urges States to take all necessary and appropriate action, in conformity with international standards of human rights, to combat hatred, intolerance and acts of violence, intimidation and coercion motivated by intolerance based on religion or belief, as well as incitement to hostility and violence, with particular regard to religious minorities.