(Minghui.org) Three women in Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province, were sentenced to prison for their faith in Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline that has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999.

Ms. Zhang Yun, 66; Ms. Ma Surui, 64; and Ms. Chen Xianhua, 76, were arrested on August 15, 2019, while reading Falun Gong books together at Ms. Chen’s home. Ms. Chen was released on bail due to health issues. Ms. Ma and Ms. Zhang have since been held in the Shijiazhuang City Second Detention Center.

The police filed the three women’s cases with the Luquan District Procuratorate on November 21, 2019, but they were later re-assigned to the Qiaoxi District Procuratorate.

The three practitioners stood trial in the Qiaoxi District Court on September 9, 2022. Ms. Ma and Ms. Zhang’s lawyers entered not guilty pleas on their behalf. Ms. Chen was taken into custody at the Shijiazhuang City Second Detention Center following the hearing.

The judge announced the verdicts in late December 2020: Ms. Chen was sentenced to 3 years with a 5,000-yuan fine, Ms. Zhang was given 2.5 years with a 3,000-yuan fine, and Ms. Ma was sentenced to 2 years with a 2,000-yuan fine.

Related reports:

Three Hebei Women Facing Indictment for Reading Falun Gong Books Together

Once Incarcerated for Nine Years, Former Senior Police Officer Arrested for Her Faith Again