(Minghui.org) Twelve residents in the Wanghua District of Fushun City were arrested over the course of 16 days for refusing to renounce Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline being persecuted by the Chinese communist regime. Nine of the practitioners remain detained.

2 Arrested on April 9

Gong Xin and Zhang Shuxian were arrested on April 9 and each detained for ten days.

9 Arrested on April 24

Zuo Yuhua, Liu Shaojun, Wu Lixian, Liu Chunlan, Zhou Shuhua, Ji Yaxuan, and three sisters (Yu Haiping, Yu Haiqiu, and Yu Hailan) are being held in Fushun Detention Center.

One of the female practitioners was stripped to her underwear to be searched at the detention center.

Four of the practitioners (Zuo Yuhua, Liu Shaojun, Wu Lixian, and Liu Chunlan) also had their homes ransacked hours after their arrest.

Since no law in China criminalizes Falun Gong, Ms. Zuo's husband has filed a complaint against the arresting officers for illegally arresting his wife.

1 Arrested on April 25

Mr. Zhao Pang was seized on April 25, but he was released after the detention center declined to take him, citing his high blood pressure.

Responsible Parties

Peng Yue (head of Fushun City Domestic Security Office) and Wei Zhenxing (a section chief at Fushun City Domestic Security Office) ordered the local Jianshe Police Station to make the arrests.

Chief Guo Guang of the police station and his deputies Liu Yang and Yu Bo were mainly responsible for arresting the above-mentioned practitioners.

This is not the first time that the police targeted local Falun Gong practitioners. Yu Bo arrested practitioner Jia Naizhi on April 11, 2016, and detained her for five days. Liu Yang led 16 officers to raid Ms. He Lizhong's home on April 15, 2016, and arrested her and her guest, Ms. Zhao Jing. The two elderly ladies, both in their late 60s, were sentenced to prison shortly afterward. Ms. He was given 3 years and Ms. Zhao 5 years.

Peng Yue: +86-13841334590, +86-24-52787387

Wei Zhenxing: +86-13841301212

Guo Guang: +86-13842308166, +86-24-52796688, +86-24-56653156

Liu Yang: +86-13942394343