Losing My Religion

A federal appeals court has upheld a decision by the U.S. Board of Immigration Appeals to deny asylum to a Chinese Christian who said he was persecuted because of his faith. Xiaodong Li says his apartment was raided and he was punched, kicked and shocked until he confessed to illegally organizing worship services in his home. The immigration board reportedly ruled that China has a right to enforce laws against unregistered churches and authorities there had punished Li for violating that law, not for his religion.