(Minghui.org) A woman in Jinzhong City was sentenced to 9 years in prison for refusing to renounce Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline being persecuted by the Chinese communist regime.

This is not the first time that Ms. Wen Shuoyan has been targeted for her faith. She lost her job at the Taiyuan City Development and Reform Commission after the persecution of Falun Gong began in 1999. She was later arrested and served 5 years in prison. Her husband divorced her during her imprisonment.

Ms. Wen started a food vendor business after she was released. She was busy preparing food on March 8, 2017 when police showed up to arrest her.

Her sister and lawyer presented medical records of her schizophrenic son, who at age 27 still needs care, and requested that she be released on bail. Shen Jianjun, head of the local domestic security office, threatened her sister and lawyer for trying to seek justice for her.

Ms. Wen appeared in court twice, on August 17 and December 25, respectively. Her lawyer entered a not guilty plea for her, as no law in China criminalizes Falun Gong.

The presiding judge sentenced Ms. Wen to 9 years soon after the second hearing. She is now appealing her sentence.

Related Report in Chinese:山西省晋中市温朔雁再次面临非法判刑