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Retired Shoe Factory Worker Sentenced to Four-Year Prison Term

December 25, 2013 |   By a Minghui correspondent from Henan Province, China

(Minghui.org)

Ms. Qu Chunrong, 60, a retired factory worker from Xuchang City, was recently illegally sentenced to a four-year prison term by the Weidu District Court in Xuchang City on July 12, 2013. She was charged with "using a heretical organization to undermine the implementation of law" and taken to the Xinxiang Women's Prison on November 22, 2013.

Optimistic and kind, Ms. Qu was a caregiver for her 90-year-old mother and liked taking care of others. She was known as a wonderful person by the neighbors and didn't seem to have many personal needs.

Ms. Qu suffered from a list of ailments including small white cysts on the eyelid, kidney disease, kidney stones, spinal fracture, growths in the breast, ailments pertaining only to women, and a constant low fever before practicing Falun Gong. As a result, it was difficult for her to read books, watch TV, or wash her hair. She was in poor health for a person her age and fellow employees at the factory were aware of her weak condition. Her hair had turned white at the age of 40 because of her illnesses.

There was a time in her 40's when her family was having financial difficulties. She and her husband had been laid-off and they did not have any extra money to pay for health care. Her husband became ill and died in his 40's at home. She was suffering so much that she wanted to die.

When Ms. Qu started practicing Falun Gong in 1996, all of the diseases that had plagued her for years disappeared. Falun Gong gave her a new life and she was blessed with good health. She has worked hard to be a virtuous person by following the principles of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" and to sincerely tell others that Falun Dafa is good.

Ms. Qu was arrested at home on the morning of July 2, 2012, by officers from the Xuchang City 610 Office, the Domestic Security Division, and the Xiguan Police Station including Xu Yanli, the captain of the Domestic Security Division. They ransacked her home and confiscated Falun Gong books and some personal items.

Xu Yanli and other officers from the Nanguan Police Station later broke into and ransacked her mother's home.

Ms. Qu was held at the Gaoqiaoying Detention Center before being transferred to the Xinxiang Women's Prison.

During the trial on the morning of July 12, 2013, the presiding judge of the Weidu District Court, Lan Guoyan, and the prosecutor Zheng Jianye, didn't use the court microphones and kept their voices low on purpose. Observers could not hear them clearly. After all it was an illegal trial.

Using a microphone, Ms. Qu's lawyer submitted a not guilty plea to the court and requested that she be released. The lawyer presented reasonable evidence to acquit Ms. Qu. The courtroom broke out in applause.

Regardless of the strong defense, the Weidu District Court deferred to the 610 Office and sentenced Ms. Qu.