(Minghui.org) Twenty-nine Falun Gong practitioners in Heilongjiang Province were arrested for their faith in less than two months in late 2017. Among them was Ms. Shi Fenglan, who became unable to walk after being abused in detention. She was released on bail at one point but was taken back into custody months later.
Ms. Shi appeared in court on July 24, 2018 together with more than ten other practitioners. She was released on bail again one month later because of high blood pressure and lower limb paralysis.
Zhang Anke, an official from Yilan County Court, came to Ms. Shi's home with several police officers on March 1, 2019. In addition to extending her bail by 6 months, Zhang announced that Ms. Shi had been sentenced to 8 years in prison with a fine of 55,000 yuan. When Ms. Shi's family questioned under which law was she convicted, Zhang said nothing and left with the police officers.
Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a mind-body practice that consists of gentle exercises and moral elevation based on the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. The Chinese Communist Party has been persecuting the practice since July 1999.
Mass Arrest
Prior to practicing Falun Gong, Ms. Shi suffered from rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease, a cerebral artery problem, and other illnesses. No medical treatments helped, and her symptoms kept worsening. By 1998 the joints in her entire body had become deformed, leaving her in pain all the time. She could hardly walk or take care of herself. After she began to practice Falun Gong in November 1998, however, all these illnesses vanished within a month.
Between August 31 and October 13, 2017, Harbin City police arrested 29 Falun Gong practitioners in Yilan County and Huachuan County.
Ms. Shi, a Jiamusi City resident, was arrested on August 31, 2017 and taken to Harbin Second Detention Center. Because of the physical abuse and mental stress, she could not take care of herself. Her husband and son made numerous requests for her release, to no avail.
As Ms. Shi's condition deteriorated, detention center officials released her on bail on January 18, 2018. Her family found she had lower limb paralysis, and she has not been able to take care of herself since then.
Taken Back Into Custody
The aforementioned court offical Zhang asked Ms. Shi's family to take her to Yilan Court for a physical examination on July 17, 2018. He promised to return her home after the examination. He then said that another examination was scheduled at Yilan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine and that Ms. Zhang didn't need to appear in court if the results confirmed her poor health.
After Ms. Shi arrived at the court, however, she was immediately sent to Yilan Police Department. During a hospital examination in Harbin City, Ms. Shi's blood pressure was found to be a dangerously high 210.
Zhang took Ms. Shi to Harbin Second Detention Center, which declined to take her because of her health condition. Zhang next tried 211 Hospital, which also said no. He returned to Harbin Second Detention Center, which refused to budge.
Zhang contacted many officials and in the end sent Ms. Shi to Harbin Fourth Detention Center, which is in fact a police hospital used to hold male inmates. Ms. Shi's blood pressure remained high.
Released on Bail Again After Trial
By working together with Yilan Procuratorate and Yilan police, Songbei Court in Harbin City tried 13 practitioners on July 24, 2018. These practitioners include 12 in Yilan County and one in Jiamusi City.
Ms. Shi was taken back to Harbin Second Detention Center after the trial. Her health kept worsening, with her blood pressure shooting up to dangerously high levels. Officials took her blood samples and forced her to take unknown drugs.
Later noticing that Ms. Shi's blood pressure had increased to as high as 230, the detention center officials took her to a hospital before trying to transfer her to Yilan Second Detention Center. Neither place was willing to take her due to her blood pressure. She was thus released on bail again on August 24, 2018.
Related Reports:
Thirteen Heilongjiang Province Residents Sentenced to Prison for Their Faith
Yilan, Heilongjiang Province: 14 Falun Gong Practitioners to Face Trial for Their Faith
