(Minghui.org) Sixteen of the 34 Falun Gong practitioners arrested in Changchun City, Jilin Province last year are set to face trial for their faith, an ancient spiritual and meditation discipline that has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999.
Over 100 police officers were dispatched to arrest the 34 practitioners on August 15, 2019. Each officer was awarded 10 points for arresting one practitioner and 1 point for one family member of the practitioners.
While eighteen practitioners were released shortly after, sixteen remained in custody at Siping City Detention Center. Two practitioners, Mr. Li Changkun, 76, and Ms. Zhou Liping, 62, were later released on bail.
The remaining 14 practitioners are still detained. They are: Mr. Hou Hongqing, 49, Mr. Han Jianping, 58; Mr. Jiang Tao, 46; Mr. Tan Qiucheng, 44; Ms. Zhang Shaoping, 51; Ms. Cui Guixian, 56; Ms. Liu Dongying, 55 and mother of Ms. Cui’s son-in-law; and seven members from one extended family (Mr. Meng Xiangqi, 37, his father Mr. Meng Fanjun, 59, his mother-in-law Ms. Fu Guihua, 55, his sister-in-law Ms. Yu Jianli, 30, her husband Mr. Wang Dongli, 40, and Mr. Wang's parents Mr. Wang Kemin, 69, and Ms. Wang Fengzhi, 69).
The police accused Mr. Meng Xiangqi of buying cellphones and printers for other practitioners, and are seeking heavy sentences against all of the practitioners.
The prosecutor has indicted the practitioners and forwarded their cases to Lishu County Court, after returning their cases several times. The practitioners’ cases have been assigned to Cui Ren, the same judge who sentenced Mr. Meng to six years for practicing Falun Gong in 2006.
Related reports:
Fifteen Jilin Residents Remain in Detention After Prosecutor Returns Their Cases
Families Targeted in Mass Arrest in Jilin Province
Siping City, Jilin Province: 18 Falun Gong Practitioners Arrested for Their Faith in One Day
Siping City, Jilin Province: Nine Falun Gong Practitioners Arrested for Their Faith in One Day
