(Minghui.org) A resident of Heishan County, Liaoning Province died while serving time for his faith in Falun Gong, an ancient spiritual and meditation discipline that has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999.

Mr. Zhang Zhencai and his wife, Ms. Zhang Lianrong, were arrested on July 14, 2019 for distributing informational materials about Falun Gong. The police ransacked their home the next day and confiscated their Falun Gong materials and other personal belongings. 

The local Procuratorate approved their arrests on July 29, 2019. They were later sentenced by the Heishan County Court, with Mr. Zhang being given 23 months, and Ms. Zhang 26 months. 

Mr. Zhang was sent to a prison in Dalian City, Liaoning Province. One prison guard called his family on January 23, 2020 to say that he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Two weeks later, the prison informed his family that he had passed away on February 7. The name of the prison and more details about his death remain to be investigated.

Ms. Zhang is currently imprisoned at the Masanjia Ward of Liaoning Women’s Prison.