(Minghui.org) A 74-year-old woman is facing prosecution for her faith in Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline that has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999.
Ms. Hao Yaqin of Songyuan City, Jilin Province, was arrested at home on April 11, 2026, by eight officers from the Ningjiang District Police Department. They ransacked her place without a search warrant and confiscated her computer, printer, and ID.
When the police took Ms. Hao to the local detention center, she was denied admission, as her systolic blood pressure reading was 260 mmHg, much higher than the normal level of 120 mmHg. The police took her to a hospital for another measurement and forced her to take some pills for hypertension. Her blood pressure remained extremely high, and the police released her on bail at around midnight.
The police later submitted Ms. Hao’s case to the Jiangbei District Procuratorate. Due to the mental distress, her blood pressure stayed elevated despite the use of medication.
Ms. Hao, born in July 1951, took up Falun Gong in 1997. Soon after, many of her long-term ailments, including headaches, insufficient cerebral blood supply, neck problems, lumbar spine disorders, heart disease, excessive gastric acid, and severe rheumatism, all disappeared.
Ms. Hao was harassed at home by two officers on June 23, 2008. Her sister and another friend happened to be visiting her. The police accused Ms. Hao of failing to register her guests with them. The officers ransacked the premises and confiscated her Falun Gong books, informational materials, photos of Falun Gong’s founder, and computer.
Both Ms. Hao and her two guests were taken to the Fanrong Police Station. An officer surnamed Du shoved her sister, Ms. Hao Yafen, and hit her in the head with a camera.
When Ms. Hao Yafen refused to sign the paperwork, police chief Zhang Geng hit her in the head. Another police director, Wang, also hit her in the head with a thick notebook when she tried to tell him about Falun Gong. She then suffered a heart attack. Despite her condition, the police took her to the Shanyou Detention Center.
Police chief Zhang returned to Ms. Hao Yaqin’s home for another raid. They turned the place upside down and dumped her personal belongings onto the floor.
Ms. Hao Yaqin was given a 1.5-year labor camp term on July 30, 2008, and Ms. Hao Yafen was given a one-year term. Both served time at the Heizuizi Forced Labor Camp, where they were forced to work 12-14 hours a day, without pay. Ms. Hao Yaqin lost over 10 kg (22 lbs) during the time.
After Ms. Hao Yaqin was released, the police continued harassing her and following her when she went out. She lived in constant fear.
Ms. Hao Yaqin’s son, Mr. Dong Mingqian, also practiced Falun Gong. He was given a forced labor camp term in the early years of the persecution. He died in a work-related accident in July 2007.