(Minghui.org) Falun Gong practitioner Ms. Chen Jie was illegally arrested on June 28, 2012. She is being held at the Lanzhou City No. 1 Detention Center, and forced to do slave labor.

Ms. Chen has to work continuously for more than 15 hours a day without a break. Furthermore, she is closely monitored 24/7 and is persecuted verbally and physically. She is now emaciated and in poor health.

A secret trial was held against Ms. Chen and three other practitioners on November 24, 2012, at the Chengguan District Court. Judges Wei Gongxin and Liu Dongyu, in charge of the case, prevented the practitioners' lawyers from defending them in court.

Ms. Chen was later sentenced to a five-year prison term on September 23, 2013. She then filed an appeal at the Lanzhou City Intermediate Court, but the judge upheld the district court's ruling.

Slave Labor at the Detention Center

Since her arrival at the Lanzhou City No. 1 Detention Center on June 30, 2012, Ms. Chen has been forced to do slave labor, including polishing tinfoil, making wigs, and now, weaving seat covers for cars.

She has to work from 6 a.m. to around 9 p.m, and required to sit the entire time. She also has to be on night watch for two hours every night.

The heavy workload and persecution has taken a toll on her health. She is emaciated and anemic. She also suffers from dizziness, and severe pain in the neck, back, and knees. Her eyes are sore and her gallbladder is inflamed.

Ms. Chen went on a hunger strike in October 2013 to protest her treatment. The head of the ward beat a young female inmate to try to threaten and coerce Ms. Chen to stop the hunger strike.

Guard Chen Hong instigated inmate Bai Xue to constantly monitor Ms. Chen and to persecute her at will.

Case Background

Since the Chinese Communist Party began the persecution of Falun Gong in 1999, Ms. Chen has been repeatedly arrested, tortured, and illegally sentenced for her belief.

She was arrested on June 28, 2012, by more than 20 officers, including Chen Zhikai from the Chengguan District Domestic Security Division. Ms. Chen's sister, Ms. Chen Shuxian, and another practitioner, Mr. Wang Youjiang, were also arrested.

The police ransacked her home and confiscated her personal belongings that included a computer, printer, and multiple cellphones.

The three practitioners were taken to the Chengguan District Domestic Security Division, where they were interrogated for two days and nights. Ms. Chen was forced to stand for long periods of time and tortured on the tiger bench.

Torture re-enactment: Tiger Bench

Ms. Chen and her sister were later transferred to the Lanzhou City No. 1 Detention Center on June 30, 2013, while Mr. Wang was sent to the Lanzhou City No. 2 Detention Center. Ms. Chen's sister was released three months later due to insufficient evidence.

The Chengguan District Procuratorate didn't “approve” Ms. Chen's arrest until July 30, 2012.

Ms. Chen, 44 years old, is from Sifang Township in Huining County, Gansu Province.

Parties involved in the persecution of Ms. Chen: Zhao Zhijun (赵志军), director of the Lanzhou City No. 1 Detention Center Chen Zhikai (陈志凯), head of the Lanzhou City Domestic Security Division: +86-13399317327 (Cell) Xiao Yunlian (肖云连), Lanzhou City Domestic Security Division: +86-13919108600 (Cell) Jia Zhaoxiao (贾兆孝), Lanzhou City Domestic Security Division: +86-13919896515 (Cell) Wei Gongxin (魏公信), presiding judge of the Chengguan District Court: +86-931-8522809 (Office) Han Zongrong (韩宗荣), Discipline Inspection Division: +86-931-8522818 (Office)