(Minghui.org) The 610 Office and authorities in Shenbeixin District, Shenyang City, Liaoning Province, have illegally arrested and incarcerated Falun Dafa practitioners Ms. Niu Guifang, Ms. Wu Limei, Ms. Dong Huidi, Ms. Zhou Fenglan, Ms. Wang Shumei, Mr. Sun Yushu, and Mr. Huo Defu. Despite intense pressure, including torture, these practitioners have refused to give up their belief. Their families and friends are extremely worried about their situation.

Ms. Niu Guifang

Ms. Niu Guifang, 53, is from Zhantun Village, Hushitai Town, Shenbeixin District. She was arrested by officers from the Xinchengzijie Police Station and put on trial on January 17, 2013.

Ms. Niu Guifang

The Shenbeixin District Court sentenced Ms. Niu to three years in prison. She was placed in Shenyang Women's Prison on November 19, 2013, and later transferred to the Second Ward of Masanjia Prison. On January 20, 2014, Ms. Niu's family learned where she was being held and went to see her. She was weak and could barely see, due to the torture. Her hair had turned gray and she could no longer lift her arms due to injuries inflicted by officers at the Xinchengzijie Police Station.

Ms. Niu cried and said that she was not allowed to say much or she would be punished and denied another visit. A guard was watching her during the visit and taking notes. Another guard watched the family and took notes. The guards only allowed the family to talk for about ten minutes.

Ms. Wu Limei and Her Husband

Ms. Wu Limei, in her forties, is from Xinchengbao Village, Huangjia Township, Xinchengzi District. She was arrested on June 7, 2012, and tried by the Shenbeixin District Court on October 18, 2012, under a trumped-up charge of “obstruction of justice.” The court sentenced her to five years in prison based on a forged “confession,” written by Deputy Captain Duan Qingzhu, of the Shenbeixin District Domestic Security Division.

Ms. Wu Limei

Ms. Wu is in currently the Ninth Ward of Liaoning Women's Prison. A year of abuse and torture in the prison has resulted in her hair turning gray, as well as dizziness, hypertension, and heart problems.

Her husband subsequently left home to find work. Her 18-year-old son was also forced to leave home and work to support the family, leaving only her younger son at home to care for her elderly mother-in-law.

Ms. Wu's husband, Mr. Liang Zhihong, is also a Falun Gong practitioner. Officers from the Xinchengzijie Police Station arrested him on July 31, 2001, and arbitrarily sentenced him to six years in prison. At the time, their sons were seven and two years old. Mr. Liang was released in 2007.

Ms. Dong Huidi

Ms. Dong Huidi from Magang Township, Shenbeixin District is in her seventies. She was arrested by authorities on May 27, 2012, and tried by the Shenbeixin District Court on October 18, 2012. The judge sentenced her to three and a half years of prison time. She is being held in the Eleventh Ward at Liaoning Women's Prison.

Ms. Dong Huidi

Ms. Dong has suffered heart problems and hypertension due being tortured in prison. Rather than provide her with medical care, the Shenbeixin District 610 Office colluded with the court and prison authorities to continue routinely torturing her. Ms. Dong refused to give up practicing Falun Gong, so the prison authorities denied family visits.

Ms. Zhou Fenglan

Ms. Zhou Fenglan, from Huishan, Shenbeixin District, is almost 70 years old. She was arrested on August 30, 2012, and tried by the Shenbeixin District Court on January 17, 2013. Ms. Zhou was too weak to stand during the trial, so the court had someone hold her up. She refused to plead guilty to the charges against her and was sentenced to three years in prison. She was placed in the Third Ward at Liaoning Women's Prison. Her family went to visit her in December 2013 but was denied.

Ms. Wang Sumei

Ms. Wang Sumei, who is in her fifties, is from Guangrong Village, Yinjia Township, Shenbeixin District. The court sentenced her to ten years in prison in 2008. The court officers beat her during the trial. Ms. Wang was sent to the Eighth Ward of Liaoning Women's Prison.

For three years, guards and other prisoners often tied Ms. Wang's limbs to the iron bars of a bed and left her there for prolonged periods. Her right hand was permanently injured when prisoner Ren Xia was tying her down with a rope. The prisoners taped her mouth shut after she spoke up to defend Falun Dafa. She had to perform forced labor for more than 12 hours per day. Prisoners Chen Chao and Yu Xiaohui often beat her and would not let her sleep at night. A prison guard instigated prisoner Jiao Yan to put drugs into Ms. Wang's food.

Ms. Wang developed diabetes in 2012 as a result of the ongoing abuse and harsh living conditions. She was transferred to the Sick Ward, where she often spoke up for Falun Dafa. She was transferred to the Correctional Ward in November 2013, and the persecution against her was intensified.

Ms. Wang's husband saw her in late 2013. The prison guard demanded money, saying that she could be released on parole for medical treatment. Ms. Wang's husband refused to offer such a bribe.

Mr. Sun Yushu and Mr. Huo Defu

Mr. Sun Yushu is almost 70 years old, and Mr. Huo Defu is in his forties. Both are from Daxinsan Village, Cailuobao Town, Shenbeixin District. In a trial in 2008, Mr. Sun was sentenced to eight years and Mr. Huo to six. They were incarcerated in Xihu Prison in Beixi City.

The captain and collaborators in the prison instigated prisoners to torture practitioners. They deprived them of sleep, insulted and cursed at them, beat and kicked them, poured cold water on them during the winter, and forced them to sit still on small benches for long periods of time. A prisoner (last name Wang) beat Mr. Sun until he sustained a concussion. Both practitioners were released after five years of severe abuse and torture.

Note: The trial in 2008 took place before the Beijing Olympics, when the authorities wanted to silence dissidents. The Shenbeixin District 610 Office, District Chief Jian Biao, and Political and Legislative Commission Secretary Sun Yonggang ordered the authorities in Shenbeixin District to forge evidence in order to convict four practitioners. Ms. Wang Sumei was sentenced to ten years in prison, Mr. Xi Changhai to 11 years, Mr. Sun Yushu to eight years, and Mr. Huo Defu to six years.

Parties involved in the persecution: Duan Qingzhu (段庆祝), deputy captain of the Domestic Security Division of the Shenbeixin District Police Department Zou Donghui (邹东辉), presiding judge of the Shenbeixin District Criminal Court Other judges in the court: Wang Yonghong (王永红) and Zhao Guoyin (赵国银) Zhao Yan (赵岩), clerk Zhang Wen (张文), dean of the Shenbeixin District Court Second Ward of Masanjia Prison: +86-24-89295152