(Minghui.org) Today's news from China includes incidents of persecution that took place in 8 cities or counties in 5 provinces, where at least 36 practitioners were recently persecuted for their belief.

1. [Rizhao City, Shandong Province] Twenty-Two Practitioners Tried
2. [Longkou City, Shandong Province] Ms. Jiao Linhui and Ms. Chen Guifang Face Trial
3. [Harbin City, Heilongjiang Province] Ms. Fan Jinqing Taken to Prison
4. [Beijing] Ms. Jia Xiumin Held in Brainwashing Center
5. [Huanggang City, Hubei Province] Ms. Xiong Xiulian’s Home Ransacked
6. [Linyi City, Shandong Province] Mr. Lei Weifeng Detained for Five Days
7. [Wuhan City, Hubei Province] Mr. Zhang Sifeng Missing
8. [Macheng City, Hubei Province] Several Practitioners Harassed
9. [Yinchuan City, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region] Mr. Wang Xiangchen Detained
10. [Jieyang City, Guangdong Province] Ms. Zhao Dexiu Tried
11. [Jieyang City, Guangdong Province] Ms. Wu Jinmei Held in Detention Center

1. [Rizhao City, Shandong Province] Twenty-Two Practitioners Tried

Twenty-two practitioners in Rizhao City were tried on December 4, 2023. They are Mr. Guo Xin, Ms. Qin Chong, Ms. Wang Yun, Mr. Jiang Haibo, Ms. Huang Shifang, Ms. Jiang Ying, Mr. Liang Geyuan, Ms. An Fengxia, Ms. Yang Chuanying, Ms. Hong Meishuang, Ms. Zhu Xiuxia, Mr. Han Bangli, Ms. Qin Yuying, Ms. Zhu Xiuzhi, Ms. Fan Shuling, Ms. Wang Shuhua, Ms. Gao Xiuhua, Ms. Gong Hua, Ms. Su Cuihua, Mr. Wang Xuli, Ms. Ding Xi, and Ms. Han Gongying.

In the courtroom, the judge asked each practitioner to make a statement that he or she would “plead guilty, pay fines, and accept sentencing.” The judge pressured the practitioners and said that their prison terms would depend on their attitudes and would be announced at the end of the court session. The verdicts of some practitioners were announced in court. The final verdicts were to be delivered on December 8, which was later changed to some other date pending court notice.

2. [Longkou City, Shandong Province] Ms. Jiao Linhui and Ms. Chen Guifang Face Trial

Ms. Jiao Linhui and Ms. Chen Guifang have been held in Yantai City Detention Center since they were arrested on May 9, 2023. It was recently reported that the Longkou Court will hold another hearing on their cases at 9 a.m. on December 12, 2023.

3. [Harbin City, Heilongjiang Province] Ms. Fan Jinqing Taken to Prison

Ms. Fan Jinqing’s daughter received a call from a prison guard at Heilongjiang Province Women’s Prison, on December 5, 2023. The guard told her that her mother had been taken to the No. 8 Ward of the prison in November.

4. [Beijing] Ms. Jia Xiumin Held in Brainwashing Center

Ms. Jia Xiumin, in her 70s, was arrested by five or six officers from the Changyang Police Station in Fangshan District around 11 a.m. on November 24, 2023. The officers confiscated Falun Gong books, photos of the founder of Falun Gong, and a computer. Ms. Jia was held in the police station, but was later sent to a brainwashing center in Houzhuang Village, Fangshan District.

5. [Huanggang City, Hubei Province] Ms. Xiong Xiulian’s Home Ransacked

When Ms. Xiong Xiulian talked to a student about Falun Gong next to Siyuan School in Huangzhou District, she was reported to the Changjiang Police Station by the student’s parents. Ms. Xiong was taken to the police station, where she was held for a day and interrogated.

On November 17, 2023, officers from Huangzhou District Domestic Security Division and the police station took elderly Ms. Xiong’s keys and ransacked her home. They confiscated photos of the founder of Falun Gong, a copy of Zhuan Falun, three Falun Gong books, two audio players, and a computer.

6. [Linyi City, Shandong Province] Mr. Lei Weifeng Detained for Five Days

Mr. Lei Weifeng from Liujiaguanzhuang Village, Liancheng Town, Mengyin County, was found to be distributing Falun Gong materials in the fall of 2023 on surveillance cameras. The person monitoring the surveillance system reported him to the police. Mr. Lei was arrested by officers from the Pingyi County Police Station on December 6, 2023, and was detained in the Linyi City Detention Center for five days.

7. [Wuhan City, Hubei Province] Mr. Zhang Sifeng Missing

Mr. Zhang Sifeng, about 70 years old, has been missing since November 28, 2023.

8. [Macheng City, Hubei Province] Several Practitioners Harassed

Officers from the Yantianhe Police Station harassed Mr. Li Heping and his wife, both in their 70s, on November 15, 2023. Mr. Li was not at home at the time. The officers searched his living room and all the other rooms, rummaging through cabinets in search of Falun Gong materials. They only found a few Falun Gong books, which they confiscated.

That same day, officers from the police station went to Ms. Lin Jilan’s home. Elderly Ms. Lin is illiterate and lives in the countryside. They threatened her, “If any of you are caught writing Falun Gong content in public areas, we will fine you 50 yuan for each character!” Prior to this visit, the officers had been to Ms. Lin’s home and took away several of her Falun Gong books.

On the afternoon of November 20, 2023, Shenguang Garden Community management staff members and community police assistants went to Ms. Zeng Jinhuan’s home and asked, “Do you still practice Falun Gong?” When they tried to take photos with their cell phones Ms. Zeng stopped them.

9. [Yinchuan City, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region] Mr. Wang Xiangchen Detained

Mr. Wang Xiangchen was reported to the police on November 7, 2023, when he shared his survival tips during the pandemic with the others in a park. He was arrested and held in the Yinchuan City Detention Center for 15 days. He returned home on November 23.

10. [Jieyang City, Guangdong Province] Ms. Zhao Dexiu Tried

Ms. Zhao Dexiu was arrested at home by officers from the Chengbei Police Station in Puning City on the afternoon of June 19, 2023. Ms. Zhao was first held in the Puning City Detention Center and was later sent to the Jiedong District Detention Center.

At 3 p.m. on November 24, Ms. Zhao was tried by the Jiedong District Court. Five other practitioners from neighboring counties were also put on trial at the same time. The trial was a formality and ended around 5 p.m. Ms. Zhao is still being held in the Jiedong District Detention Center.

11. [Jieyang City, Guangdong Province] Ms. Wu Jinmei Held in Detention Center

Ms. Wu Jinmei from Puning City was arrested at home by officers from the Chengbei Police Station on the afternoon of June 19, 2023. Around 8 p.m. that evening, the police ransacked her home and confiscated dozens of Falun Gong books. She was initially sent to the Puning City Detention Center. Ms. Wu is currently held in the Jiedong District Detention Center.