(Minghui.org) A group of officers broke into the home of a Tianjin resident on July 9, 2019 and arrested her for her faith in Falun Gong, an ancient spiritual and meditation discipline that has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999.

Ms. Zhu Qiuzhen’s two children and mother-in-law went to seek her release a few days later. The police said to them, “I know your family is in a very difficult situation. But it all depends on her attitude whether we can release her.”

Ms. Zhu’s daughter was admitted to a college shortly after her arrest. A local Falun Gong practitioner helped her with the preparation and she left home for school in September 2019.

Ms. Zhu, a widow, was sentenced to eight months by Ninghe District Court on December 17, 2019. Her son, still a minor, and mother-in-law are struggling to fend for themselves.

Family’s Plight

Ms. Zhu’s husband contracted Hepatitis B in 1997. They spent all of their savings on the medical treatment, but his condition still persisted. He felt desperate about his future.

A neighbor later introduced Falun Gong to them. His condition disappeared a few months after he took up the practice.

Witnessing her husband’s changes, Ms. Zhu also picked up the practice.

After the communist regime ordered the persecution of Falun Gong in 1999, the village officials frequently harassed the couple and tried to force them to give up their faith.

Ms. Zhu’s husband was deeply distressed and his Hepatitis B recurred. He passed away a few years later.

Ms. Zhu did several part-time jobs to raise her two children and care for her mother-in-law.