(Minghui.org) Two residents of Liaoyuan City, Jilin Province were sentenced to prison on October 17, 2019 for their faith in Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline that has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999.

Ms. Zhang Shufen was given 1.5 years and Ms. Sun Shiduo 1 year by Longshan District Court.

The two women were arrested on June 5, 2019 after being reported for talking to people about Falun Gong. The police confiscated their Falun Gong books and other belongings. Both have been held at Xiangyang Detention Center since.

Ms. Sun’s brother-in-law, who happened to be at her home during the police raid, was slapped in the face by one officer and held at the police station for more than an hour.

The police also threatened to force Ms. Sun’s son, a college student, out of school, if she didn’t give up her faith.

Ms. Sun is an only child. Her father just passed away last year, and her sentencing dealt another blow to her mother, who recently became ill and struggles to care for herself.