(Minghui.org) A man in Yongji County, Jilin Province, was sentenced to two years and fined 3,000 yuan for refusing to give up his faith in Falun Gong on May 22, 2020.
Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a mind-body practice that has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999.
Mr. Liu Ji, 69, was arrested on November 12, 2019, while hanging up a banner that said “Falun Dafa is good.” The police searched his home twice and were disappointed to find no Falun Gong books.
Mr. Liu developed high blood pressure after two months in Yongji County Detention Center. Given the coronavirus epidemic, the police released him on 10,000 yuan bail on March 10, 2020.
A month after he returned home, Mr. Liu was ordered to appear in Chuanying District Court on April 10. The judge announced his verdict on May 22.
The police took Mr. Liu back to the detention center on July 2 after a medical exam and testing him for COVID-19. It’s not clear when he will be taken to prison.
Taking Up Falun Gong
When a house accidentally collapsed on him, Mr. Liu suffered severe injuries to his spine and had acute pain in his legs. He tried several qigong practices but didn’t see much improvement in his health.
A friend introduced Falun Gong to him in 1998 and shortly after learning it, his legs no longer hurt. His stomach problems, kidney condition, and frozen shoulder were cured as well. After seeing his improvements, many of his family members also took up Falun Gong.
Persecuted for Upholding His Faith
For refusing to give up his faith, Mr. Liu has been arrested and detained several times prior to his latest sentencing.
On December 9, 2008, the police broke into his home, arrested him, and confiscated his Falun Gong books, informational flyers, a TV, and a satellite receiver that he used to receive uncensored, overseas TV programs. His daughter and son were also arrested.
Mr. Liu’s daughter was released from Yongji County Detention Center 15 days later. Mr. Liu and his son, Mr. Liu Fengyu, were released later after being fined 20,000 yuan by the police, who threatened to send them to a forced labor camp if they didn’t pay up.
After being released, the father and son continued to be harassed and were forced to live away from home. Months later, they were arrested again around 4 a.m. in late April 2009 and taken directly to the Yinmahe Forced Labor Camp.
After the labor camp refused to accept them, the police had to bring them back to the Yongji County Detention Center that night. When they returned to the labor camp two days later, the elder Mr. Liu was not admitted due to his high blood pressure, but his son was given a one-year term. At their family’s persistent demands, the police returned 5,000 yuan.
Mr. Liu and his son were arrested and detained in Yongji County Detention Center again on May 29, 2012. The police also ransacked their home.
Mr. Liu and his daughter were arrested one more time, on June 14, 2017. They were released after the detention center refused to admit Mr. Liu because of his high blood pressure.
