(Minghui.org) Today's news from China includes incidents of persecution that took place in 14 cities or counties in 8 provinces. According to this report, 4 Falun Gong practitioners were subjected to mistreatment during their detention, and at least 16 were illegally arrested.
Ms. Chen Weiqin and Ms. Zhu Jiqin from the Baoshan District were arrested around mid-May 2017. Ms. Chen, in her 70s, was released due to her age. Ms. Zhu's whereabouts are unknown.
Participants in the persecution of Ms. Chen and Ms. Zhu:Baoshan District Political and Legal Affairs Committee: +86-21-56691011Xi (袭), section head of the Baoshan District 610 Office: +86-13918276949Baoshan District Domestic Security Division: +86-21-56602253, +86-21-56608111Yang Yuefei (杨跃飞), domestic secretary officer: +86-21-28950349
Ms. Wang Jingzhe was taken to the Liaoning Women's Prison. She has not been heard from since.
Mr. Han Guohai was transferred from the Gaizhou City Detention Center to the Nanguanling Prison.
Ms. Fu Wenzhen was arrested by officers from the Penpu Police Station on the morning of May 9, 2017. Her home was ransacked.
Ms. Fu was held in the Yujiahe Detention Center for five days. She has now returned home.
Ms. Zhu Jiman from the Wuchang District was arrested by officers from the Jiyuqiao Police Station on the evening of April 7, 2017, for distributing Falun Gong materials.
Ms. Zhu was initially held in the Wuhan City No. 1 Detention Center for ten days.
On the morning of April 18, Ms. Zhu was taken from the detention center to the Legal Education Class, where she was held for a month. She was taken back to the Wuhan City No. 1 Detention Center on May 19.
Mr. Zhai Yongchi was recently arrested for refusing to renounce his belief in Falun Gong. He is being held at the Suizhong Detention Center.
Mr. Zhai, a 64-year-old retired engineer, is suffering from high blood pressure and is urinating blood. He passed out twice following his arrest. His family is extremely concerned about his well-being.
The Taikang County Court held two trials on May 25, 2017, against six practitioners who were detained for refusing to renounce their belief in Falun Gong.
Four of the practitioners were tried together the following morning. Mr. Zhou Zhengfa and Ms. Yue Hengyu lawyers entered “not-guilty” pleas for them.
Ms. Zhao Jinglan’s lawyer pleaded “guilty” for her. Mr. Zhou Chengzhi was appointed a lawyer by the court, who was instructed to enter a “guilty” plea for him.
Ms. Ou Meiyu and her mother, Ms. Ren Xiufang, were tried in the afternoon by the same judge. Their lawyer defended their constitutional right to freedom of belief.
The judge didn't issue any verdicts in the two trials.
Ms. Zeng Yaolian was tried on May 25 for refusing to renounce her belief in Falun Gong.
Her lawyer entered a “not guilty” plea and defended her constitutional right to practice and inform people about Falun Gong.
Ms. Zeng informed the court how Falun Gong restored her health and made her a more considerate person.
The court arranged for more than two dozen people to sit in the gallery. None of them were family members of Ms. Zeng. The people in the gallery cursed at the defense lawyer as he presented his arguments. The judge did nothing to restore silence in the court.
More than a dozen residents in Yingde City were arrested in October 2016 for refusing to renounce their belief in Falun Gong.
Ms. Luo Xiaoqin and Ms. Long Guoji were arrested in early October 2016.
Mr. Luo Xiaowen (Ms. Luo Xiaoqin’s brother), Mr. Zou Xiaopao, Ms. Wang Yuexiang, A’rong, and Ms. Tang Yingai were arrested on October 6.
The police later arrested Mr. Cai Wenfeng, Ms. Chen Xiaoming, A’juan, Ms. Wang, and A’lian.
Mr. Luo, Mr. Zou, Ms. Wang, Mr. Cai, Ms. Chen, and another practitioner Ms. Xu Chunrong have been indicted and are facing trial.
Mr. Zhang Hengtong has been held in the Huining County Detention Center since he was arrested in September 2016. He was often beaten.
His family went to visit him on May 5, 2017, after hearing of his situation. However, the guards didn’t allow them to visit until May 12.
Mr. Zhang's family saw the bruises on his face. Mr. Zhang said the guards had other detainees beat him on May 1. The corner of his eye was cut, which required several stitches in the hospital.
Mr. Liang Jianjun, a teacher, was arrested at work on May 25, 2017. Officers from the Lechang Police Department broke into his home and confiscated Falun Dafa books and pictures of Master Li Hongzhi (the founder of Falun Gong).
Mr. Liang is being held in the Lechang Detention Center. His family has not been allowed to visit him.
Ms. Lu Zhanping was arrested at her home by officers from the Jizhong Police Department's Domestic Security Division on the night of May 22, 2017. The officers tried to trick Ms. Lu into opening her door, but she refused. They later arrested her when she stepped out of her home.
The officers ransacked Ms. Lu's home and confiscated a laptop computer, two iPads, nine cellphones, and many Falun Dafa books.
Ms. Lu was taken to the Shuidian Detention Center in Huabei Oilfield. She was handcuffed and shackled, and was also forced to do labor work.
Ms. Zhao Chunxia and her husband Mr. Jia Bin, were arrested on the morning of April 21, 2017, when they went to Ms. Zhao's father’s home to help do the housework. Their teenage daughter and son had to be taken care of by her 80-year-old grandfather.
Ms. Zhao and Mr. Jia's family members went to the police department to request their release several times. The police department refused their requests.
Mr. Jia’s family hired a lawyer for Mr. Jia. His lawyer went to visit him and learned that the arrests of Ms. Zhao and Mr. Jia had been approved by the Procuratorate.
Ms. Wang Shuqiu was arrested at her home on October 25, 2016, and was held at the Jilin City Detention Center. She was sentenced to three and a half years in prison by Changyi District Court on May 11, 2017.
Ms. Wang's family wasn’t notified of the sentence. The court didn’t report the verdict to her family until the end of May, despite their constant requests.
Her family has filed an appeal for her.