(Minghui.org) Nine Falun Gong practitioners in Tangshan City, Hebei Province were arrested on the morning of July 3, 2019, for their faith.
The arrests came two weeks before the 20th anniversary of the persecution campaign ordered by the Chinese communist regime against Falun Gong, an ancient spiritual and meditation discipline centered on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance. It was reported that the Tangshan Domestic Security Division orchestrated the arrests.
The targeted practitioners were Mr. Yang Xiaoming, Mr. Tian Shisheng, Ms. Tian Shulan, Mr. Shi Weidong, his wife Ms. Lu Cuijun and sister Ms. Shi Yanli, Ms. Liu Xiuhua, Ms. Liu Xiaofang, and a male practitioner whose name is being investigated.
Mr. Yang was arrested at home. The police confiscated many items from his home, including Falun Gong-related materials and a printer. He is currently being held at the Tangshan No. 1 Detention Center.
The home of Mr. Shi and his wife was also ransacked. Although his sister was released shortly after, the couple was transferred to the Tangshan No. 1 Detention Center.
Ms. Liu Xiaofang, in her 60s, was arrested after being reported for talking to people about Falun Gong at a farmers' market. She is detained at the Leting County Detention Center.
In addition to the nine practitioners, Mr. Peng Shucai was arrested two days later at 4:00 p.m. on July 5. The police ransacked his home and confiscated his Falun Gong books and a computer. He was then taken to Qian'an City Police Department for interrogation.
This is the third time that Mr. Peng has been arrested for his faith. The latest police raid of their home upset and frightened his wife, two children (a 2-year-old and a middle school student), and his elderly disabled father.