(Minghui.org) A Harbin City, Heilongjiang Province resident passed away on February 29, 2020, seven years after he served more than 11 years for his faith in Falun Gong.

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is an ancient spiritual and meditation discipline that has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999.

Mr. Shang Guimin began to practice Falun Gong in early 1999. He was arrested five times and extorted for more than 10,000 yuan by the authorities.

His last arrest was on April 26, 2002. The police also arrested and interrogated his wife and child at school, neither of whom practiced Falun Gong. Mr. Shang’s cellphone was confiscated.

While Mr. Shang was held at Mulan County No. 1 Detention Center, the police tortured him and attempted to find out where he got Falun Gong materials for distribution and who made them. Mr. Shang refused to answer.

Mr. Shang was secretly sentenced to 14 years in Jiamusi Prison in late September 2002. He was often beaten and locked in solitary confinement for refusing to give up Falun Gong. The guards sometimes took off his clothes and forced him to sleep on the concrete floor, when it was -20°F outside.

Mr. Shang suffered poor health after he was released early, in November 2013. He never fully recovered and passed away on February 29, 2020. He was 55.