(Minghui.org) Two women from Meizhou City, Guangdong Province, were sentenced to prison in late December 2020 for their faith in Falun Gong, a spiritual and meditation discipline that has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999.

Ms. Ye Xiufang, 76, was arrested at home on December 16, 2019. Her Falun Gong books and materials were confiscated. The police targeted her because they suspected her of distributing Falun Gong materials on November 27, 2019.

Due to her health, Ms. Ye was soon released on bail. She was indicted in October 2020.

The other practitioner, Ms. Li Linglian, was arrested on July 14, 2020, and has been held in the Meijiang District Detention Center. She appeared in the Mei County District Court on October 29 and again on November 4 before being convicted.

Both Ms. Ye and Ms. Li were each sentenced to three and a half years and fined 35,000 yuan.

Ms. Ye has appealed the verdict. Ms. Li said she is also considering whether to file an appeal.

The judges, Wu Wenlong and Zhang Qiaoling, as well as court clerk Ling Yue, have participated in the sentencing of several other local practitioners, including Li Chunxing, Zhu Xiansheng, Zhang Xiaoyun, Li Meiping, Guo Yafen, Zeng Huaying, and Zeng Haiping.