(Minghui.org) A Yongji County, Jilin Province resident was arrested on February 4, 2020 for putting up posters with information about his faith in Falun Gong and about the coronavirus epidemic. Mr. Sun Zhiwen was released hours later, only to be taken back into custody on April 22 and held at Yongji County Detention Center.
Two days before his re-arrest, the police found Mr. Sun at his workplace and brought him to Yongji County Court. The court staff attempted to force him to sign some paperwork, but he refused to comply.
His family has been denied visits with him and was instructed to make deposits to his commissary account.
Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a spiritual and meditation discipline based on the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. It has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since July 1999.
Mr. Sun used to suffer poor health since youth. After he started to practice Falun Gong in 2016, his health improved quickly and he was full of energy.
Since the novel coronavirus broke out in China, several stories have been published on Minghui.org about people making full recoveries from pneumonia-like symptoms after reciting “Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.”
Inspired by such stories, Mr. Sun put up posters to encourage people to recite the abovementioned auspicious phrases to stay safe.
The police arrested him on February 4, 2020 after seeing him putting up posters on surveillance cameras. Although he was released later that evening, he was arrested again months later and is now facing prosecution.
Prior to his two arrests this year, Mr. Sun was arrested on July 19, 2019 and detained for 13 days for trying to stop the police from arresting his mother, who also practices Falun Gong.
Jilin Man Arrested for Putting Up Posters On How to Stay Safe Amidst Coronavirus Epidemic