(Minghui.org) A Tianjin woman has been taken to the Tianjin Women’s Prison to serve a five-year term for her faith in Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline that has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999.
Ms. Zhang Rongxiu was arrested on February 12, 2020 for putting up information about Falun Gong. She was held in a metal cage at the local police station for a day. Her computer and several hundred yuan in paper bills printed with message about Falun Gong (as a way to overcome the strict information censorship in China) were confiscated. The police extorted 10,000 yuan from her family before releasing her on bail.
The police summoned Ms. Zhang on September 22, 2020 and ordered her to report to the police station on September 30. As she didn’t show up, they repeatedly harassed her over the phone. Lan Enliang, the village director, also harassed her in person and ordered her to renounce Falun Gong. She refused to comply.
Three officers harassed Ms. Zhang again in late December 2020 and ordered her to sign a statement to renounce Falun Gong. They threatened to ruin her children’s futures if she didn’t sign it.
As Ms. Zhang remained firm in her faith, the village officials came to her home again on January 6, 2021 and threatened to take away the government sponsored housing. When she still refused to comply, she was notified to move out in three days.
The police harassed Ms. Zhang a few more times in June 2021 and threatened to take her back into custody if she didn’t sign the required statement.
On the evening of August 10, 2021, seven officers broke into Ms. Zhang’s home and carried her into the police car. The police threatened to arrest her daughter Ms. Yu Lan, when she tried to stop them from taking Ms. Zhang away. Ms. Yu’s son and daughter, both around 4, were terrified by the police violence.
Ms. Zhang was made to appear at the Nankai District Court on December 9, 2021 and sentenced to five years. She has been taken to the Tianjin Women’s Prison on August 24, 2022.
Ms. Zhang took up Falun Gong in February 1999. Prior to her latest sentencing, she has been incarcerated three times at Tianjin Women’s Prison for a total of 9.5 years, during which time she was subjected to torture, brainwashing and drug administration.
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