(Minghui.org) A woman from Weifang City, Shandong Province died on November 14 in police custody, just one month after her arrest for upholding her belief in Falun Gong, a peaceful spiritual practice persecuted by the Chinese Communist regime.
Ms. Li Xiufen became the 188th Falun Gong practitioner from Weifang to die in detention since the persecution began 16 years ago.
Ms. Li was arrested on October 15 and sent to a brainwashing center the same day. Because she refused to renounce Falun Gong, the police decided to transfer her to the Weifang City Detention Center on October 26. The Center, however, refused to admit Ms. Li, citing high blood pressure. The police nonetheless returned with her the next day and managed to get her accepted.
According to insiders from the local police department, Ms. Li was brutally force-fed and beaten after she went on a hunger strike to protest her illegal detention. She was also forced to ingest unknown drugs on many occasions.
When viewing her body, Ms. Li family noted that she was emaciated and nearly beyond recognition. They were not given any explanation as to the cause of her death. The local authorities quickly had Ms. Li's body cremated two days after she died, on November 16.