(Minghui.org) The family of a Tianjin woman who was sentenced to nine years for her faith in Falun Gong is now unable to find her.
Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a spiritual practice that has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999.
Ms. Gao Lijuan, a 49-year-old teacher, was arrested on December 28, 2017. During her detention at the Binhai New District No. 3 Detention Center, her lawyer visited her several times and her family also sent clothes and money to her from time to time.
In January 2020, Ms. Gao was sentenced to 9 years in prison and fined 30,000 yuan. When her family went to the detention center to make a deposit for her in June 2020, they were told that she was no longer there.
Her family then contacted the Tianjin Women’s Prison (the only women’s prison in town) through the Prison Administration Bureau to inquire about her whereabouts, but was told she wasn’t there either.
After asking around, they were told that it’s possible Ms. Gao was imprisoned at the Binhai Prison. While the Binhai Prison is a men's prison, a detainee at the Binhai New District No. 3 Detention Center recalled one guard mentioning back in 2019 that very few female prisoners are also held there.
Ms. Gao’s family then went to the Binhai Prison to look for her, only to be told that she wasn’t there and there is no female ward in the prison.
Knowing that the Chinese communist regime’s forced organ harvesting crime is still going on in China, Ms. Gao’s family is now very worried about her life. They are calling on the international community to help speak out for her case.
Related reports:
Targeted in a Group Arrest, Tianjin Woman Sentenced to 9 Years for Practicing Falun Gong
After Three Canceled Hearings, Tianjin Woman Tried for Her Faith, Threatened with a 12-Year Sentence
