(Minghui.org) A 75-year-old man was given a second prison term for his faith in Falun Gong, a spiritual and meditation discipline that has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999.
Mr. Xia Zhongzhi, from Huaiyang County, Henan Province, was arrested on March 9, 2019, for talking to Cheng Weifeng, an officer with the Domestic Security Office, about Falun Gong and urging him to stop persecuting practitioners like him. Cheng refused to listen and arrested Mr. Xia. He and other officers stepped on Mr. Xia’s feet and handcuffed him. They ransacked Mr. Xia’s home later in the day and confiscated his Falun Gong books and materials.
Mr. Xia was later sentenced to 3.5 years and is now incarcerated in Xinmi Prison. His family isn’t allowed to visit him.
This is the second time that Mr. Xia has been sentenced for his faith. He was previously arrested on June 26, 2014, by the same officer Cheng. Mr. Xia had been studying the Falun Gong teachings with other practitioners. Ten other practitioners were arrested that same day.
Mr. Xia was sentenced to three years in the Xinmi Prison. He was tortured in both the detention center and prison for refusing to give up his faith.
