(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 20 practitioners were recently persecuted for their belief.

1. [Chaoyang City, Liaoning Province] Four Practitioners Face Trial
2. [Shanghai] Mr. Huang Haitao’s Case Brought to Court
3. [Chongqing] Ms. Zhu Jingrong’s Original Sentence Upheld
4. [Harbin City, Heilongjiang Province] Mr. Yang Xijin Escapes From Police Station
5. [Beijing] Ms. Zhang Xiufen Tried
6. [Daqing City, Heilongjiang Province] Ms. Wang Zhengyong Tried via Video Link
7. [Suining City, Sichuan Province] Ms. Yang Sizhen and Her Husband Mr. Xiao Wenxue Arrested
|8. [Yanji City, Jilin Province] Mr. Li Huzhe Arrested
9. [Danyang City, Jiangsu Province] Four Practitioners Arrested
10. [Tai’an City, Shandong Province] Ms. Pei Fengqin Arrested
11. [Beijing] Practitioner Sun Lihua Harassed
12. [Zhuozhou City, Hebei Province] Ms. Liang Lifen Arrested
13. [Benxi City, Liaoning Province] Practitioner Liu Runtian Arrested

1. [Chaoyang City, Liaoning Province] Four Practitioners Face Trial

Mr. He Hongjun, Ms. Fu Wenhui, Mr. Tian Pengfei, and Mr. Lan Qingzhong were arrested by the Qianjin Police Department on May 11, 2024. Their cases have been submitted to the Shuangta District Court. 

2. [Shanghai] Mr. Huang Haitao Faces Trial

It was reported recently that Mr. Huang Haitao from Beicai Town, Pudong New Area, was arrested on April 2, 2024, and held in the Pudong Detention Center. The Pudong New Area Procuratorate indicted him at an unknown date. His case was first forwarded to the Pudong Court and then moved to the Shanghai First Intermediate Court, which then assigned it to the Fengxian District Court.

3. [Chongqing] Ms. Zhu Jingrong’s Original Sentence Upheld

Ms. Zhu Jingrong, 78, from Beibei District, was sentenced to one year and six months in prison and fined 3,000 yuan by the Jiangbei District Court on June 26, 2024. She appealed with the Chongqing First Intermediate Court, which ruled to uphold his original verdict on September 14, 2024. Both Ms. Zhu and her daughter refused to sign the verdicts and the court staff member signed it on their behalf.

4. [Harbin City, Heilongjiang Province] Mr. Yang Xijin Escapes From Police Station

As soon as Mr. Yang Xijin from Shuangcheng District arrived home at around 7:30 on the evening of October 9, 2024, seven officers from the Minzhu Police Station knocked on the door and forced their way in. They demanded that Mr. Yang go to the police station to answer questions about “using his cellphone outside of the legally permissive areas.” At the police station, they forced him to hand over his cell phone and checked his cell phone for apps for circumventing internet censorship, logs of online activities, and communication records.

The police later took Mr. Yang back home for a search and confiscated more than ten copies of Falun Gong books and Falun Gong brochures. They also harassed his 83-year-old father. Finally, the head of the Domestic Security Division impounded Mr. Yang’s car and took him back to the police station.

At about 3 a.m., Mr. Yang managed to escape from the police station. The police searched his workplace, a local post office the next day, and confiscated some Falun Gong books and materials.

5. [Beijing] Ms. Zhang Xiufen Tried

Ms. Zhang Xiufen was summoned to the Fengtai District Court on the afternoon of October 11, 2024. Upon arrival, she was surprised to find that the court was having a hearing of her case. She entered a not-guilty plea for herself and maintained that she didn’t violate any law in practicing Falun Gong.

6. [Daqing City, Heilongjiang Province] Ms. Wang Zhengyong Tried 

Ms. Wang Zhengyong, 58, from Ranghulu District, was arrested on May 19, 2024. The Ranghulu District Court held a virtual hearing of her in late September 2024 without notifying her family.

7. [Suining City, Sichuan Province] Ms. Yang Sizhen and Her Husband Mr. Xiao Wenxue Arrested

Ms. Yang Sizhen and her husband Mr. Xiao Wenxue were arrested on October 14, 2024. They are now detained in Daying County. 

8. [Yanji City, Jilin Province] Mr. Li Huzhe Arrested

Mr. Li Huzhe was arrested by officers from Yanji City Political Security Division on his way home after talking to people about Falun Gong on September 25, 2024. He went on a hunger strike to protest the persecution and was released on the afternoon of October 8.

9. [Danyang City, Jiangsu Province] Four Practitioners Arrested

Four practitioners, including Ms. Lu Xiaoqin, Gu Jianping, who is over 80 years old, and two practitioners whose names weren’t known, were arrested by more than ten police officers while studying Falun Gong teachings together on the morning of August 4, 2024. The officers confiscated photos of the founder of Falun Gong, Falun Gong books, Minghui Weekly, music players, amulets, paper bills with Falun Gong information printed on them, and desk calendars containing Falun Gong information.

Currently, Ms. Lu is being held in Danyang Detention Center, and Gu in Zhenjiang Detention Center. The other two practitioners have been released.

10. [Tai’an City, Shandong Province] Ms. Pei Fengqin Arrested

Five officers from the Sanli Police Station in Taishan District damaged the door lock and entered the home of Ms. Pei Fengqin, 67, on October 15, 2024. They forcibly took her to the police station. She was admitted to Tai’an City Detention Center despite her dangerously high blood pressure.

11. [Beijing] Practitioner Sun Lihua Harassed

Practitioner Sun Lihua from Changping District was placed under 24-hour house surveillance, from September 27 to October 7, 2024, by two males with unknown identities.

12. [Zhuozhou City, Hebei Province] Ms. Liang Lifen Arrested

Three officers from Dongchengfang Town Police Station went to the home of Ms. Liang Lifen in Xichengfang Village to harass her on the evening of September 20, 2024. They confiscated a computer, a cell phone, books, and seven desk calendars. They arrested Ms. Liang and detained her for five days.

Ms. Liang went to the Zhuozhou Domestic Security Division on October 8 to demand the police to return her personal belongings. The police returned her computer, but not her Falun Gong books.

13. [Benxi City, Liaoning Province] Practitioner Liu Runtian Arrested

Practitioner Liu Runtian from Zhuanshan Community, Pingshan District, was arrested on October 10, 2024, while distributing and posting Falun Gong materials in the downtown area of Benxi City. Liu was detained for 10 days.