(Minghui.org) A total of 37 residents in Shenyang are confirmed to have been prosecuted in the first half of 2016 for resisting the persecution of Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline based on the principle of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.
Except for three people, all of the targeted Falun Gong practitioners were arrested in 2015 and saw their cases go through various stages of prosecution in 2016.
Twelve practitioners were given prison terms ranging from 1 to 7 years. The local intermediate court has turned down two practitioners’ appeals and is considering three other practitioners’ cases. It is unclear if the remaining seven practitioners plan to file appeals.
In addition, 18 practitioners have been tried and are awaiting verdicts. Two more people have been indicted and are waiting to appear in court. Five other practitioners’ cases have been forwarded to the local procuratorate; they are facing possible indictment.
12 Sentenced
Six of the sentenced practitioners were arrested for publicizing Falun Gong and the persecution.
Ms. Sun Shujia was arrested on April 13, 2015 and was kept in a small cage that night. She was sentenced to 3 years and 2 months on January 20, 2016.
Mr. Qi Xiangyang was arrested on the same day as Ms. Sun. He was force-fed with chill water and brutally beaten that night. He was sentenced to 3 years on January 26, 2016.
Ms. Mo Yuhua was arrested on August 3, 2015 and sentenced to one year on April 14, 2016. She was also fined 10,000 yuan.
Mr. Wei Zhenqun was arrested on October 7, 2015 and sentenced to 3 years on April 21, 2016. He is appealing his case.
Ms. Shi Lihua was arrested on November 2, 2015 and sentenced to 3 years in April this year.
Ms. Liu Xiangju was arrested on December 10, 2015 and sentenced to 7 years and fined 10,000 yuan on May 27, 2016.
The remaining six practitioners were arrested and sentenced for filing criminal complaints against Jiang Zemin, the former Chinese Communist Party leader who initiated the persecution of Falun Gong.
Mr. Luo Guolong was arrested on September 8, 2015. While in detention, he was once abused to the point of vomiting blood. He was sentenced to 3 years on February 3, 2016. His appeal has been turned down.
Ms. Wang Jingzhe was arrested on October 22, 2015 and sentenced to 6 years on June 16, 2016.
Mr. Liang Zhiqun was arrested in early November last year and sentenced to 3 years in March this year. His appeal has been turned down.
Ms. Wang Aihua was arrested on November 7, 2015 and sentenced to 2 years on June 13, 2016.
Ms. Han Ying was arrested on November 9, 2015 and sentenced to 4 years and fined 5,000 yuan on April 21, 2016. The court did not notify her family of her sentence until April 28, leaving them only three days to file an appeal.
Mr. Li Yancai was arrested on November 10, 2015 and sentenced to 3 years on April 26, 2016. He is appealing his case.
18 Awaiting Verdicts
A total of 18 practitioners, all arrested in 2015, have been tried in 2016. They are currently awaiting verdicts.
Mr. Wang Yingxian was arrested on May 14, 2015 and tried on January 26, 2016. Prosecutors recommended 9-11 years, and the judge said a verdict would be issued later.
Ms. Lan Lijie was arrested on June 25, 2015 and tried on March 17, 2016.
Ms. Hou Xiufen was arrested on July 10, 2015 and tried on April 8, 2016.
Mr. Wang Yujie was arrested on October 5, 2015 after filing a criminal complaint against Jiang Zemin. He was tried on March 14, 2016.
Ms. Wang Yaping, 61, was arrested on October 20, 2015 after filing a criminal complaint against Jiang Zemin. She was tried on March 16, 2016 and appeared in court again on April 14.
Ms. Mao Juan was arrested on October 21, 2015 for suing Jiang Zemin. She was tried on March 18, 2016.
Ms. Tong Liyan was arrested on October 22, 2015 for suing Jiang Zemin and tried on June 23, 2016.
Ms. Chen Shufen was arrested on October 30, 2015 and tried on May 30 of this year.
Nine practitioners were arrested on November 2, 2015 for suing Jiang Zemin. Ms. Shao Yinghui, 38, was beaten so badly that she had trouble walking. Officers Li Wei and others also dragged her on the ground, ripping her clothes and leaving her upper body exposed. She was tried on June 17, 2016.
The other eight practitioners, including Zeng Xianzhi, Zeng Xiuxiang, Jin Shinan, Sun Ruijie, Li Guoxiang, Wu Lianzhen, Sun Xiujun, and Sun Zuowei, were tried jointly on June 24, 2016.
Mr. Zheng Fuguang was arrested at work on December 30, 2015 and tried on June 17, 2016.
2 Indicted and Facing Trials
Ms. Li Xiupei was arrested on September 5, 2015 and indicted on February 28, 2016. She is waiting to hear about her court date.
Ms. Gao Song was arrested on September 22, 2015. Her initial court appearance scheduled for June 24 was canceled. It is unclear when a new court date will be set.
5 Facing Indictment
Five practitioners’ cases have been forwarded to the local procuratorate in 2016, which by law means they are facing indictments.
Ms. Lou Amei was arrested on November 3, 2015 for suing Jiang Zemin. The police confiscated her valuables and identification.
Mr. Liu Jiaze, 63, was arrested on November 4, 2015 for suing Jiang Zemin.
A family of three was arrested at a local diner on April 14, 2016. Mr. Sun Dekun, his wife Ms. Xing Anmei, and their daughter Ms. Sun Yingying were among the 33 local Falun Gong practitioners arrested in the first five months of 2016.
