(Minghui.org) A Leting County, Hebei Province man who suffered a stroke and became incapacitated while serving time for practicing Falun Gong was denied medical parole by the authorities.
Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is an ancient mind-body practice that has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999.
Mr. Wang Zhiqin was rushed to Xiehe Hospital on December 27, 2019 after suffering a stroke. He was discharged and taken back to the prison hospital on January 3, 2020, after his condition was stabilized.
Mr. Wang’s family went to Jidong Prison on January 6, 2020, but was denied a visit with him. They applied for medical parole for him and said they could provide much better care for him at home in the event of an emergency.
A prison guard said Mr. Wang was recovering and had regained some speech. He said they had to deny him medical parole on the advice of the prison doctor, who determined that Mr. Wang did not qualify for parole. That guard said they were putting Mr. Wang under observation for another six months and would re-evaluate him after that.
Mr. Wang and his wife Ms. Cao Yachun were arrested on December 1, 2017 after the police suspected them of putting up Falun Gong posters. Their son, a high school senior, was left at home alone.
The couple made two appearances in Luannan County Court, first on August 24 and then on November 13, 2018.
The prosecutor played a video as additional evidence during the second hearing. When the couple pointed out that the home shown in the video being searched by police wasn't theirs, jJudge Liu Yansuo stopped them from talking. He also barred their lawyer from making defense arguments.
It was reported that both Mr. Wang and Ms. Cao were later sentenced to three and a half years. Ms. Cao is currently incarcerated in Shijiazhuang Women’s Prison.
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