(Minghui.org) Today’s news from China includes incidents of persecution that took place in 8 cities or counties in 6 provinces, where at least 19 practitioners were recently persecuted for their belief.
1. [Tongchuan City, Shaanxi Province] Ms. Yang Qiaoli’s Trial Rescheduled
2. [Changli County, Hebei Province] Practitioner Wang Qinghua Tried
3. [Yishui County, Shandong Province] Cases of Mr. Xu Yizhong and Wife Ms. Kong Xianzhen Turned Over to Procuratorate
4. [Dong’e County, Shandong Province] Mr. Zhang Yuying and Mr. Song Jinguo Arrested
5. [Kunming City, Yunnan Province] Ms. Ou Xuehui and Ms. Yao Zuming Held in Detention Center
6. [Changchun City, Jilin Province] Ms. Xiao Benying Held in Custody
7. [Fushun City, Liaoning Province] Ms. Wang Jiemei Released After Serving Three and Half Years in Prison
8. [Huludao City, Liaoning Province] Ms. Liu Cong Officially Arrested
1. [Tongchuan City, Shaanxi Province] Ms. Yang Qiaoli’s Trial Rescheduled
Ms. Yang Qiaoli from Yintai District was originally scheduled to be tried on August 22, 2024. The trial was changed to a pre-trial meeting and the actual trial date was rescheduled to August 29. Details about the trial aren’t available at the time of writing.
Ms. Yang was arrested on January 9, 2024. The police confiscated from her home three printers, several computers, over 70 Falun Gong books, and some informational materials. She was accused of putting Falun Gong leaflets on utility poles and several residential community gates.
2. [Changli County, Hebei Province] Mr. Wang Qinghua Tried
Mr. Wang Qinghua was tried by the Funing District Court on August 20, 2024. During the trial, Mr. Wang demanded that prosecutor Zou Sumin and presiding judge Zhang Wenbin present a legal basis to prosecute her for practicing Falun Gong. The prosecutor did not produce any documents, and Zhang interrupted Mr. Wang when he was talking. Mr. Wang and his lawyer repeatedly requested the police to present the physical copy of the evidence instead of just showing the photos, which was also rejected by Zhang.
Mr. Wang was arrested together with seven other practitioners on August 16, 2022, for talking to people about Falun Gong. All of them were released on bail soon after. The seven practitioners were: Ms. Wang Ying, Mr. Chen Dong, Ms. Bai Hanzhi, Ms. Xuan Xiaowen, Ms. Shen Yanru, Ms. Li Jinhua, and Ms. Yang Jinxia.
The Changli County Police Department terminated the investigation of the other seven practitioners on July 26, 2024. The Funing Procuratorate also lifted the house arrest of Mr. Chen around July 23, and then the bail condition of five practitioners, including Ms. Wang, Ms. Bai, Ms. Xuan, Ms. Li and Ms. Yang, on August 15. The case of Ms. Shen was never submitted to the Funing Procuratorate.
3. [Yishui County, Shandong Province] Cases of Mr. Xu Yizhong and His Wife Ms. Kong Xianzhen Turned Over to Procuratorate
Mr. Xu Yizhong and his wife Ms. Kong Xianzhen live in Xujiawa Village, Yicheng Sub-district. They were arrested at home by officers from the Beijiao Police Station and from the Domestic Security Division on May 28, 2024. The couple’s personal belongings and some cash were confiscated.
Mr. Xu is currently held in Yishui County Detention Center, and Ms. Kong is held in Linyi City Medical Supervision Ward (which is affiliated with Linyi City Detention Center). They are now facing prosecution after the police submitted their case to the procuratorate.
4. [Dong’e County, Shandong Province] Mr. Zhang Yuying and Mr. Song Jinguo Arrested
Mr. Zhang Yuying, in his 40s, lives in Zhanghanwu Village. Mr. Song Jinguo, around 50 years old, lives in Jiangzhuang Village.
On August 14, 2024, the police from the Chengguan Police Station called them respectively and ordered them to go to the police station regarding an incident two years ago when the two practitioners painted over a poster board with propaganda that slandered Falun Gong. The two practitioners went to the police station and were arrested on the spot.
5. [Kunming City, Yunnan Province] Ms. Ou Xuehui and Ms. Yao Zuming Held in Detention Center
Ms. Ou Xuehui and Ms. Yao Zuming were reported to the police for talking to people about Falun Gong. They were arrested by officers from Jinning District Police Department on August 13, 2024, and their homes were ransacked. They are being held in Kunming City Detention Center.
6. [Changchun City, Jilin Province] Ms. Xiao Benying Held in Custody
When Ms. Xiao Benying returned home on the afternoon of July 25, 2024, officers from Guilin Road Police Station who had been staking outside of her downstairs followed her upstairs.
Four officers ransacked Ms. Xiao’s home and confiscated a Falun Gong book, several recent articles by the founder of Falun Gong, two small audio players, two MP3 players, and several gourd pendants. Two old wall calendars with information about Falun Gong were also confiscated.
Ms. Xiao was held at Guilin Road Police Station overnight and taken to the Weizigou Detention Center the next day to serve a 15-day detention. Her daughter and husband took her home on August 10.
7. [Fushun City, Liaoning Province] Ms. Wang Jiemei Released After Serving Three and Half Years in Prison
Ms. Wang Jiemei, a retired teacher, was arrested by officers from the Gaokan Police Station on February 21, 2021, for telling people about Falun Gong’s health benefits. She was sentenced to three years and six months in prison and fined 10,000 yuan on November 3, 2021, by Shenyang Economic and Technological Development Zone Court. She was released on August 20, 2024, after serving her prison term.
8. [Huludao City, Liaoning Province] Ms. Liu Cong Officially Arrested
Ms. Liu Cong was tricked into opening the door by a police officer from the West Street Police Station who posed as a neighbor living downstairs at around 5 a.m. on July 12, 2024. About ten officers broke into her home and ransacked the place. They confiscated her Falun Gong books, computers, and cell phones. The legal documents she prepared to appeal against the wrongful sentence of her husband Mr. Luan Changhui for practicing Falun Gong were also seized.
Ms. Liu was first taken to Longgang District Police Department and then to the Huludao City Detention Center. The police accused her of having Falun Gong materials at home and “using a cult organization to undermine law enforcement,” the standard pretext used by the Chinese authorities to frame Falun Gong practitioners. She was officially arrested on July 26.
Ms. Liu’s husband, Mr. Luan, is a senior engineer at Bohai Shipyard. He was arrested in July 2021 and sentenced to four years by the Lianshan District Court in November 2021. Following his conviction, Ms. Liu filed an appeal with the Huludao City Intermediate Court, which ruled to uphold his original verdict. Ms. Liu continued to seek justice for her husband and filed a motion to reconsider the wrongful sentence with the intermediate court. It’s not clear whether a decision regarding the motion was issued.
Ms. Liu’s persistent efforts to seek her husband’s release, however, resulted in retaliation by the authorities.
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