(Minghui.org) A woman serving three years for her faith in Falun Gong almost did not get to meet her lawyer, as the prison authorities suddenly canceled the scheduled meeting without a valid reason.
Ms. Liu Zaiyun of Cangzhou City, Hebei Province was arrested on January 11, 2022 and sentenced to three years on April 17, 2024. After her appeal was rejected on June 27, she was transferred to the Hebei Province Women’s Prison (located in the capital city of Shijiazhuang) on August 16.
The prison assigned Ms. Liu to Division 14, where she was subjected to intensive brainwashing aimed at forcing her to renounce her faith in Falun Gong. She was not allowed to purchase daily necessities or receive family visits.
Ms. Liu’s out-of-town lawyer managed to book an appointment to see her on November 11. After 9 that night, her daughter Mei (alias) received a call from the prison, demanding the younger woman to cancel the lawyer visit as Ms. Liu was “on the cusp of writing statements to renounce Falun Gong.” The caller also promised to grant Mei a phone conversation with her mother if she did as she was told.
Mei said that she would not stop the lawyer from traveling to Shijiazhuang and asked to know why the prison suddenly changed its mind. The caller replied that a lawyer visit meant possible legal actions against the prison, and they needed to have meetings to further discuss the matter.
Mei and the lawyer went to the prison on November 11. The prison affairs office said the meeting with Ms. Liu had been canceled. The lawyer replied that he had never received an official notification and that he must see his client. Upon his insistence, the prison brought out Ms. Liu to the meeting room.
A guard sat next to Ms. Liu and two young inmates sat behind her lawyers. She appeared to have lost some weight but was in good spirits. She, however, did not dare to recount how she was abused and only said she was fine and busy doing “studies” every day.
Ms. Liu is set to be released on January 11, 2025.
Related Reports:
Hebei Province: Updates on Four Canzhou City Residents Sentenced for Their Faith in Falun Gong
Four Hebei Residents Lose Appeals Against Prison Sentences for Practicing Falun Gong
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