(Minghui.org) A 75-year-old woman was rushed to the hospital on February 13, 2019 after being on a hunger strike in protest of the arbitrary arrest and detention for her faith in Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline persecuted by the communist regime since 1999.

Ms. Ma Xiushan, a Benxi City, Liaoning Province resident, was arrested two weeks before the Chinese New Year, on January 21, 2019, while depositing money for a Falun Gong practitioner detained at Benxi City Detention Center.

Unbeknownst to her, Ms. Ma had been put on the “Wanted List” after she was released on bail following her earlier arrest on January 14, 2019 for talking to people about Falun Gong.

Ms. Ma began a hunger strike on February 7 to protest the latest arrest. Her health declined quickly and she was sent to the hospital one week later.

Her family had hired a lawyer to represent her.

Ms. Ma used to suffer low blood pressure and gastritis, among many other diseases. She credits Falun Gong for curing her health issues and she felt compelled to share her story with the public, only to be targeted by the authorities for her courageous efforts.

Prior to her latest arrest, she had been detained at Benxi City Detention Center for a month in 2011 for seeking the release of another detained fellow practitioner.