Sisters in Qiqihar Given Lengthy Sentences for Practicing Falun Gong

(Minghui.org) Seven and nine years were the sentences handed down to two sisters in the Tiefeng District Court of Qiqihar, to Ms. Xie Li and Ms. Xie Wei, who were sentenced to jail for practicing Falun Gong.

The court was on high security alert on the day of the trial, November 29, 2013. Two rows of police officers were lined up in front of the building, and almost all the officers from Xingongdi Police Station were dispatched for duty that day.

To prevent practitioners from attending the trial, the court issued only a limited number of tickets for spectators. Only four tickets were given to the sisters' family. Even Ms. Xie Li's husband was denied entry. Ms. Xie Wei's mother-in-law burst into tears as she voiced her grievance. She almost passed out and was carried out of the courtroom. Because there were many practitioners outside the courthouse, Sun Hongtao, head of the 610 Office in the Tiefeng District, ordered a police officer to videotape them.

Family Members and Practitioners Tried to Rescue Them

Since the sisters' arrest on March 28, 2013, practitioners from around the world have tried to persuade the authorities to do the right thing and leave the women alone. Their pleas were ignored.

The sisters' families went to the police station to demand their release, but Liu Yang, deputy director of the police station, fabricated “evidence” to charge them.

The families hired a lawyer to defend the sisters. The lawyer rebutted the court's accusations of “using a cult organization to undermine the implementation of the law,” but to no avail.

Persecuted for Speaking up for Falun Gong

Since the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) started persecuting Falun Gong in 1999, the sisters have appealed to the government to "clarify the facts" about Falun Gong. They have been repeatedly arrested and tortured by police from the public security offices.

Ms. Xie Wei has been persecuted many times and repeatedly harassed by the Beijuzhai Police Station while trying to inform people about how Falun Gong saved her and her son. This was the cause of great misery at home.

After Ms. Xie Li was arrested and sentenced, her eldest son, who is about to take the college exam, became very depressed and didn't want to talk to anyone. He slept for long periods of time and had no motivation to do his schoolwork. Both families were torn apart by the CCP because of their faith in Falun Gong.

Benefited from Practicing Falun Gong

The sisters have benefited physically and mentally from practicing Falun Gong, which teaches people to be good and kind. Ms. Xie Li used to have otitis media and mastoiditis—infections in her ear. She had to go to the hospital for treatment every few days, and had to take medicine. After she got married and became pregnant, her condition worsened. The doctor suggested surgery, but her family refused because they thought the surgery and medicine would harm the fetus. The doctor said her life would be endangered if the infection entered her brain. Then Ms. Xie Li started practicing Falun Gong. Shortly after that, all her diseases were miraculously healed.

Parties Involved in Persecuting the Sisters:
Sun Hongtao (孙洪涛) from the 610 Office: [phone] (Cell)
Ai Yong (艾勇), procurator of the Tiefeng District Procuratorate: [phone] (Cell)
Zhao Dan (赵丹), prosecutor: [phone]
Qu Aike (曲爱科), director of Tiefeng District Court: [phone] (principal person responsible for the persecution)
Wang Yuxia (王玉霞), presiding judge: [phone] (principal person responsible for the persecution)
Tian Chunli (田春立), director of District Xingongdi Police Station: [phone] (Cell)
Liu Yang (刘洋), captain and deputy director: [phone] (Cell)

Please refer to the original Chinese text for more names and telephone numbers.

Related article:
Tiefeng District Court to Put Two Falun Gong Practitioners (Sisters) on Trial