(Minghui.org) Having spent a total of 10 years in prison for refusing to give up his belief at the demands of Chinese authorities, a 47-year-old history teacher in Hunan Province was arrested again last August while distributing literature exposing the persecution of Falun Gong by the Communist regime.
While in detention, Mr. Lü Songming (吕松明) had a relapse of coronary heart disease that developed as a result of his decade-long imprisonment. He fell into critical condition so often that the detention center doctor had to be on call at all times. To avoid Mr. Lü dying while in his custody, Director Liu Guoqiang sought permission to release him.
The local authorities, however, refused to set Mr. Lü free. His 84-year-old father went back and forth between relevant agencies to plead for his release. What he got was a trial for his son on December 9 by Xiangxiang City Court.
Judge Liu Jianjun adjourned the trial without issuing a verdict, but informed Mr. Lü's family on January 5, 2015 that he would be tried for a second time. His family asked that he be allowed to await the second trial at home, but the judge rejected their medical parole request.
At the time of writing, Mr. Lü's lawyer has not been informed of the date of the second trial. Mr. Lü remains at Xiangxiang City Detention Center and still experiences frequent chest pain.
Officers from Meiqiao Town Police Station arrested Mr. Lü on August 31, 2014. They ransacked his home on September 3, and his arrest was approved on September 12.
Mr. Lü had previously served two five-year sentences for his belief. He was tortured so often that he required emergency medical care more than ten times during his imprisonment.
He was often hung up and beaten for long periods of time. Only six of his teeth were left as a result. He was once force-fed human excrement. Guards also beat him on the head so hard that he suffered a brain injuries.
Jinshi Prison Hospital diagnosed him with severe coronary heart disease on August 25, 2010.
Perpetrators' Contact Information:Meiqiao Police Station Chief Xiao Ranyu (肖冉宇)Xiangxiang City Court Judge Liu Jianjun (刘建军): +86-731-56823736, +86-13907321530
