A human rights group says police in the Chinese city of Shanghai have arrested the leader of an underground Christian church and sentenced him, without trial, to 18 months in a labour camp.
The American-based organisation Human Rights in China says the leader, Xu Guoxing, was detained along with more than 20 church members when police raided his home last month where a service being held.
The others were later released.
The group says that while the Chinese Government claims that citizens enjoy religious freedom, the authorities continue to persecute religious organisations operating outside of official control.