Two Sisters Tried and One of Their Husbands Faces Trial, All for Their Faith in Falun Gong

(Minghui.org) Two sisters in Benxi City, Liaoning Province stood trial on June 22, 2022 for practicing Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline that has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999. One of their husbands is facing trial, his dangerously high blood pressure developed in custody.

Ms. Ren Guie was deceived by the police into going to the Wolong Police Station for a coronavirus test on the evening of December 8, 2021 and arrested there. The police later ransacked her home, confiscating her Falun Gong books, informational materials and printer. Her husband was twice taken to the police station for interrogation, but he refused to answer any questions. 

On the same day, Ms. Ren’s younger sister, Ms. Ren Guifen and her husband, Mr. Li Hongjun, were also arrested and held in custody.

Prior to the two sisters’ hearing at Nanfen District Court on June 22, Ms. Ren Guifen’s family was pressured by the police not to contact local Falun Gong practitioners. They hired a lawyer to enter a guilty plea for Ms. Ren, but she refused to accept the lawyer. She acted as her own lawyer and entered a not guilty plea. She argued that no law has ever criminalized Falun Gong in China nor identified it a cult.

Meanwhile, Mr. Li developed dangerously high blood pressure at the Benxi City Detention Center and has been taken to the Benxi City Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital. The Nanfen District Court is planning a virtual hearing of his case in the hospital.

This isn’t the first time that Ms. Ren Guifen and her husband Mr. Li have been targeted for their faith. Mr. Li was previously sentenced to 10 years in 2002 and Ms. Ren to 12 years in 2003. 

Perpetrators’ contact information:
Jiang Fengdi (姜峰滴), head of Wolong Police Station: [phone], [phone]Wang Xingyi (王兴义), instructor of Wolong Police Station: [phone]