(Minghui.org) Eleven Falun Gong practitioners and three of their family members, who don't practice Falun Gong, were arrested in Shenyang City, Liaoning Province in the days leading up to the Chinese communist regime's 70th anniversary of founding on October 1, 2019.
Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a spiritual discipline that has been persecuted by the communist regime since 1999.
On September 18, 2019, a practitioner surnamed Liu in Shenhe District was the first practitioner to be arrested in the police sweep in Shenyang.
Three days later, Mr. Liu Yongjian, a 54-year-old taxi driver also in the Shenhe District, was arrested at home. The police ransacked his residence and confiscated his Falun Gong related materials.
His wife, who doesn't practice Falun Gong, was brought to the police station for interrogation. She was released later that evening.
Mr. Liu is currently held at Beihai Police Station in the Dadong District.
Mr. Zhang Shusen and his wife, who doesn't practice Falun Gong, were arrested and had their home ransacked around 5 pm on September 23. His wife was released around 10 p.m. that night.
Ms. Mai Xiufen, from the Huanggu District, was arrested and had her home ransacked around 6:30 pm on the same day.
Mr. Wang Qiang and his wife, both around 65 and from Yuhong District, were arrested by officers from the Huangfu District Police Department in the evening.
Ms. Zhao Guiqin, in her 60s and from the Dadong District, was arrested by officers from Sandongqiao Police Station. Her older sister and Ms. Li Xiujie, who happened to be visiting Ms. Zhao, were also arrested. The police confiscated Ms. Zhao's Falun Gong books and related materials.
Ms. Zhao's incapacitated adult child, who was arrested at the same time, later became ill at the police station. Only then were Ms. Zhao and her child released. At the time of writing, Ms. Zhao is still under house arrest.
Ms. Zhao's sister and Ms. Li are currently held at Shenyang City No.1 Detention Center.
Ms. Shang Xia, 57, was arrested at her mother's home in Tiexie District. The police also went to her home and ransacked her place.
Ms. Wang Yan, in her 60s and from Dadong District, was arrested at 10 am on September 24 by officers from Maguanqiao Police Station. She was denied admission by Shenyang City Detention Center due to her physical condition and was released around midnight.