(Minghui.org) Today's news from China includes incidents of persecution that took place in 9 cities or counties in 7 provinces, where at least 21 practitioners were recently persecuted for their belief.

1. [Heilongjiang Province] Heilongjiang Women’s Prison Intensifies Persecution of Falun Gong Practitioners
2. [Macheng City, Hubei Province] Practitioners Abused in Prison
3. [Fushun City, Liaoning Province] Tong Mingqiu and Tong Jing Arrested
4. [Qingdao City, Shandong Province] Mr. Wang Detong Arrested
5. [Ning’an City, Heilongjiang Province] Four Practitioners Arrested
6. [Harbin City, Heilongjiang Province] Ms. Wang Jinyue Harassed
7. [Changchun City, Jilin Province] 85-Year-Old Ms. Li Guilan Harassed
8. [Huai’an County, Hebei Province] Mr. Ren Yuetang and Ms. Shen Ailan Harassed
9. [Huaihua City, Hunan Province] Mr. Xu Guisheng Harassed
10. [Huangchuan County, Henan Province] Ms. Liu Ling Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison

1. [Heilongjiang Province] Heilongjiang Women’s Prison Intensifies Persecution of Falun Gong Practitioners

After the Chinese Communist Party eased its pandemic restrictions, officials in Heilongjiang Provincial Women’s Prison intensified their persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. They came up with various ways to pressure practitioners who remained firm in their belief.

Ms. Liu Lijie and Ms. Jing Yuhua from Jiamusi City were forced to sit on small stools until ten o’clock at night. Even though the COVID lockdown was fully lifted, the prison officials still did not allow family members to visit practitioners.

Many guards and inmates in the prison have fevers or other COVID symptoms, but the officials have not provided medicine or medical treatment to the practitioners. Ms. Liu recently had a fever of 39 degrees centigrade (102.2F) and her chest hurt.

Prisoners are not given enough to eat and are hungry. Most of the practitioners held there are in their 70s, and some are over 80 years old.

2. [Macheng City, Hubei Province] Practitioners Abused in Prison

Ms. Zou Guixiang’s one-year prison term recently ended and she returned home on December 21, 2022. Ms. Zou became emaciated while incarcerated and her hair turned gray.

In addition, many practitioners in Macheng City are still being held in custody. Ms. Dai Xinhua and Ms. Zheng Cuiyu are held in the Huangzhou Detention Center. Ms. Zheng has been held there for over a year, and Ms. Dai for nearly three years. Mr. Yi Jiahai and Ms. Yan Yingzhong have been held in the Macheng Detention Center for over a year, and they have not yet been able to see their families. Mr. Luo Liteng was sentenced to four years in prison by the Macheng City Court in September 2022, and is currently being held in the Shayang Prison.

3. [Fushun City, Liaoning Province] Tong Mingqiu and Tong Jing Arrested

Tong Mingqiu and Tong Jing (gender unknown) were reported to the police when they clarified the truth about Falun Gong in the Dongfuping Community around 1 p.m. on December 29, 2022. They were arrested. Tong Mingqiu was released at 9 p.m. Tong Jing is still being held.

4. [Qingdao City, Shandong Province] Mr. Wang Detong Arrested

Mr. Wang Detong was recorded by surveillance cameras while posting and distributing Falun Gong materials. His home was ransacked on December 22, 2022 and he was taken to the Pudong Detention Center. He was released later that day.

5. [Ning’an City, Heilongjiang Province] Four Practitioners Arrested

Chen Xueyan, Li Jin’e, Jiang Meiling, and Dong Chunbo were reported to the police while clarifying the truth and distributing desk calendars in Xigangzi Village, Wolong Township, on December 16, 2022. They were arrested by officers from the Wolong Township Police Station.

The practitioners were told to sign the interrogation transcripts and detention forms, which they refused. The four practitioners were released at around 4 p.m. that afternoon.

6. [Harbin City, Heilongjiang Province] Ms. Wang Jinyue Harassed

Two officers from the Xinmin Police Station, Hulan District, went to Ms. Wang Jinyue’s home on the afternoon of November 10, 2022. Ms. Wang was not at home at the time. Her granddaughter opened the door. The two officers entered her home, pointed at the photos of Falun Gong’s founder, and threatened Ms. Wang’s daughter, “Put all these things away, otherwise we will arrest your mother.”

7. [Changchun City, Jilin Province] 85-Year-Old Ms. Li Guilan Harassed

Government officials from Yingjun Township, along with officers from the Sandao Town Police Station, went to 85-year-old Ms. Li Guilan’s home despite the COVID surge, and pressured her to sign a guarantee statement, promising to not practice Falun Gong, on behalf of her son and daughter-in-law.

8. [Huai’an County, Hebei Province] Mr. Ren Yuetang and Ms. Shen Ailan Harassed

Mr. Ren Yuetang and Ms. Shen Ailan were at home in Huai’ancheng Town in late October 2022, when they were harassed by two police officers. The officers photographed them and told them not to go anywhere.

9. [Huaihua City, Hunan Province] Mr. Xu Guisheng Harassed

In Xinhuang County, three men and one woman led by Cao Huiping from the 610 Office harassed Mr. Xu Guisheng from Xujiawan Village, Fangjiatun Township, on December 1, 2022. They forcibly photographed him.

10. [Huangchuan County, Henan Province] Ms. Liu Ling Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison

Ms. Liu Ling was arrested while distributing truth-clarification materials on June 14, 2022. She has since been held in custody. She was sentenced to nine years in prison and fined 20,000 yuan on November 25.