(Minghui.org) A 74-year-old woman in Shantou City, Guangdong Province was sentenced to six months on January 29, 2022, for her faith in Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline that has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999.

Ms. Cai Xiuhua began to practice Falun Gong in 1996, while in her 40s. She credits the practice with curing her severe stomach issue and duodenal ulcer, which rendered her unable to eat many foods. The doctor predicted that she may not live past 50, but she has remained healthy since.

On the evening of August 13, 2021, Ms. Cai was reported by a local resident for giving him informational materials about Falun Gong. The police broke into her home on August 16 and confiscated her dozens of Falun Gong books, related materials and other personal belongings. Her son Wang Jianshu tried to reason with the police and stop them from searching the place, only to be arrested and held in the police station for a day himself.

Ms. Cai was taken to the Chenghai Detention Center following her arrest. The police submitted her case to the Chenghai District Procuratorate on September 24. The prosecutor returned her case several times for insufficient evidence, before transferring it to the Jinping District Procuratorate on November 13.

The Jinping District Procuratorate indicted Ms. Cai in December. She was tried by the Jinping District Court on January 7, 2022, through a video call. Two lawyers entered a not guilty plea for her. The judge sentenced her to six months on January 29.

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