(Minghui.org) A retired engineer in Shanghai was sentenced to five years for his faith in Falun Gong, a mind-body discipline that has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999.

Mr. Zhang Qin, 65, appeared in Fengxian District Court on July 6, 2020. Two lawyers entered a not guilty plea for him. The judge announced the verdict against him at the end of the trial, accusing him of being a “repeat offender.”

Because of upholding his faith in Falun Gong, Mr. Zhang had been arrested five times in the past, resulting in two prison terms (four and five years, respectively) and one forced labor term of one year.

Mr. Zhang’s latest and sixth arrest took place on April 24, 2019, at a subway station in Shanghai. He suffered head injuries and had difficulty moving as a result of police brutality during the arrest.

The Xuhui District Procuratorate approved his arrest on May 30, 2019, and indicted him on August 20, 2019.

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