From The New York Times:
The leader of a Chinese Christian sect and at least 11 of his subordinates have been executed for ordering the murder of members of a rival religious group, as authorities sought to suppress big underground churches that they deemed cults.
Xu Shuangfu, the founder of the Three Grades of Servants Church, which once claimed more than a million followers in China, was put to death last week, his lawyer, Li Heping said. Mr. Li said he and Mr. Xu’s family members learned today of his death.
The execution of Mr. Xu and two other defendants, Li Maoxing and Wang Jun, brings to 12 the number of members of Three Grades of Servants who have been put to death since a crackdown on the secretive Protestant sect began in 2004, the lawyer said.[Full Text]
-Also read report from BBC: China sect leader ‘put to death’
