(Minghui.org) Minghui.org confirmed in early April 2024 that a Handan City, Hebei Province, resident was sentenced to 1.5 years for practicing Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline that has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999.

Mr. He Shiguo, a 45-year-old taxi driver, was arrested on April 29, 2023, by officers of the Handan City Domestic Security Division and the Yongnian District Domestic Security Division. His computer and printer were confiscated. He was later sentenced to 1.5 years and has been taken to the Jidong Prison in Tangshan City. 

Prior to his latest sentencing, Mr. He was arrested many times and served three labor camp terms for upholding his faith.

When the persecution started in July 1999, Mr. He went to Beijing to appeal and was given two years at a labor camp, where he was severely tortured.

Mr. He was given another forced labor camp term in 2008. While serving time at the Handan Forced Labor Camp, he was forced to stand for long periods of time, slapped in the face, kicked, and beaten with rubber clubs. Guards Ge Qingxi and Zhang Xuegang beat him so hard that his body was covered with bruises and he had trouble getting out of bed.

Mr. He was arrested again on August 31, 2011, after being reported for raising awareness about the persecution. He was held at the Yongnian County Detention Center and interrogated. He was taken to the Handan Forced Labor Camp on September 22, 2011 to serve a 1.5-year term.

Mr. He was arrested one more time in May 2019 and detained for 15 days.