(Minghui.org) A 73-year-old Binzhou City, Shandong Province resident was sentenced to three years and three months in early June 2022 for practicing Falun Gong. He has appealed the verdict.

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a spiritual discipline that has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999.

Mr. Qi Guoxi was arrested in August 2021. His computer, printer and many other supplies he used to print Falun Gong informational materials at home were confiscated. As the local detention center refused to admit him due to his physical condition, the police released him on bail, after extorting several thousand yuan from him. 

Mr. Qi was later indicted by the Bincheng District Procuratorate. He stood trial at the Bincheng District Court on June 1 and was sentenced to prison with a 30,000-yuan fine by presiding judge Cui Xiaopeng. 

Other Falun Gong practitioners who have been sentenced in Binzhou City since last year include Mr. Yu Zhong and his wife Ms. Geng Jianfen, Ms. Li Shufen, Ms. Wei Jiangmei, Mr. Du Dacun and Ms. Zhao Xiulan.

Ms. Qi began practicing Falun Gong in December 1998. He credits the practice for curing his heart condition and high blood pressure. With improved health, he no longer suffered from frequent colds or was afraid of low temperatures.

Because of not renouncing Falun Gong, Mr. Qi was arrested and had his home ransacked on March 10, 2004. After eight months at the Binzhou City Detention Center, he was sentenced to three years at the Weibei Prison. The guards constantly shocked him with electric batons and forced him to work at least 13 hours every day without pay. Both he and his family have endured tremendous mental distress due to the persecution.