(Minghui.org) Mr. Gong Wenyi was recently sentenced to nine years for his belief in Falun Gong. On January 28, 2019, he was sent to Hulan Prison in Harbin City, Heilongjiang Province.
Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a spiritual discipline composed of gentle exercises and the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Since the communist party started to persecute it in July 1999, a large number of practitioners have been arrested, detained, and tortured.
Officers in Songbei Police Department arrested 13 practitioners including Mr. Gong on January 18, 2017. Among them, 12 were charged and later sentenced to prison on December 14, 2017. Mr. Gong was released on bail due to his poor health.
On November 9, 2018, officers from Shangzhi Police Station arrested Mr. Gong at home around 6:00 a.m. They also ransacked his home and confiscated a computer as well as Falun Gong books. Mr. Gong was kept at Songbei Police Department in the afternoon and sent to the Harbin First Detention Center in the evening.
At least 118 other practitioners in Harbin City and Daqing City of Heilongjiang Province were also arrested on that day. In addition, more than one dozen practitioners were harassed. The order of police raid was said to come from high ranking officials at the province level and police were dispatched to arrest practitioners based on a name list.
Daowai Court in Harbin held a secret trial at the detention center against Mr. Gong on December 12. No family members, relatives, or friends were notified. Mr. Gong defended himself explaining what Falun Gong is and stating the freedom of belief is protected by the Chinese Constitution.
He was sentenced to prison weeks later.
Bi Yanlu: judge of Daowai Court, +86-451-87070000, +86-451-87073045Song Xuemei: judge of Daowai Court, +86-451-87073048
119 Falun Gong Practitioners Arrested in Two Heilongjiang Province Cities in One Day
Twelve Falun Gong Practitioners Sentenced to Prison in Harbin City, Heilongjiang Province