(Minghui.org) Today’s news from China includes incidents of persecution that took place in 12 cities or counties in 7 provinces, where at least 19 practitioners were recently persecuted for their belief.
Ms. Yu Meixia is a senior teacher at the Wutu Vocational Middle School in Changle County. She was sentenced to three years and six months on April 4, 2022 for talking to people about Falun Gong. She appealed to the Weifang City Intermediate Court but the original verdict was upheld. She was taken to the Shandong Province Women’s Prison in late March 2023.
Chen Yancui was arrested by officers from the Jinling Town Police Station on the evening of February 7, 2023 for distributing information about Falun Gong. Her home was ransacked that evening. The police confiscated 17 Falun Gong books, 20 amulets, and a photo of Falun Gong’s founder.
Lu Haihong and Jiang Guirong were caught by surveillance cameras when they distributed information about Falun Gong in the Yangguanghepan Community. They were arrested by officers from the Dongcheng Police Station around 3 p.m. on April 8, 2023. Their homes were ransacked. The police confiscated their computers, cell phones, Falun Gong books, and pamphlets. The practitioners were placed under 15-day detention and were sent to the Tangyuan County Detention House.
Mr. Wang Houde and his wife Ms. Zhou Fenglan from Penglai District were followed home by three plainclothes officers around 3 p.m. on April 3, 2023. More officers were called in and ransacked their home. The police confiscated their Falun Gong books, photo of Falun Gong’s founder, posters and other personal belongings. The couple was taken to the Xiguan Police Station in Penglai District for interrogation but they were released later.
Ms. Wang Jiemei’s family was informed on April 9, 2023 that she was transferred from the No. 1 Detention Center to the No. 2 Women’s Prison of Liaoning Province.
Mr. Liu Mingsen was tried in the Dong’a Court on March 30, 2023. His lawyer and his wife were not allowed in the courtroom during the trial.
Ms. Li Xiangzhen from Anren County was arrested on the evening of September 26, 2022 along with three other practitioners. Ms. Li Xiangzhen was tried in court on March 7, 2023. She was later sentenced to eighteen months in prison and fined 3000 yuan. She will be released on March 7, 2024.
Three other practitioners including Liu Fani, Li Hualin and Li Guilan, were each sentenced to six months in prison and fined 1000 yuan. They have been released.
The case against Ms. Ren Leiju has been submitted to the Dong’a Court by officers from the Liaoda Police Station around March 30, 2023.
Mr. Ren Peng was taken to the Xiaoshan Detention Center.
Mr. Du Zhentian was transferred from the Longkou Detention Center to the Shandong Province prison on February 16, 2023.
Ms. Lei Xiuxiang from Fengman District was arrested at her home by five officers including the deputy of the Dachangtun Police Station at 7 p.m. on March 31, 2023. The police ransacked her home and confiscated her Falun Gong books, a photo of Falun Gong’s founder, and a printer. Ms. Lei is currently held in the Jilin City Detention Center.
Mr. Li Zhongyuan from the Yinzhou District was arrested on October 20, 2015, for filing a lawsuit against former CCP leader Jiang Zemin for persecuting Falun Gong. He was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison. Mr. Li will be released on April 20, 2023.
Ms. Cheng Yulan was arrested on July 12, 2022, sentenced to 21 months, and fined 10,000 yuan by the Xiangyang District Court on January 18, 2023. Her family received a letter from the Heilongjiang Province Women’s Prison on April 4, 2023, which informed them that she had been taken there on March 30, 2023. The prison stated that the family could visit her two days later on April 6. It’s not clear whether they were allowed to visit her.
Mr. Zhang Baozhong, in his 50s, stood trial at the Xiangdu District Court on August 19, 2022. The judge first gave him an eighteen month probation, but later changed it to an eighteen month prison term. Despite his high blood pressure and lung condition, he was taken to the Jidong No.4 Prison. His family was informed of his imprisonment on March 17, 2023. He is scheduled to be released on March 24, 2024.