(Minghui.org) Two residents of Taikang County, Henan Province were sentenced to prison two months apart for practicing Falun Gong, a mind-body practice that has been persecuted by the Chinese Communist Party since July 1999.

Ms. Sun Airong Given 3 Years in August 2023

Ms. Sun was arrested on December 9, 2022, after she was reported when she visited another Falun Gong practitioner. The arresting officers from the Nanguan Police Station submitted her case to the Taikang County Procuratorate, which later returned the case citing insufficient evidence. The police station then submitted her case to the Huaiyang County Procuratorate, which proceeded to indict her.

Huaiyang County held a hearing in August 2023 and soon sentenced Ms. Sun to three years, with her term commencing on November 1, 2023. She received a copy of the verdict on September 20, 2023. It is unclear where she is being held.

Mr. Xu Jianchao Given 5 Years in October 2023

Mr. Xu was arrested on March 29, 2023, by officer Wang from the Taikang County Domestic Security Office. While he was held at the Taikang County Detention Center, he was subjected to various forms of abuse. At one point he was only given one or two meals each day for 70 days straight. He soon became emaciated.

Mr. Xu was secretly sentenced to five years on October 12, 2023 and admitted to the Xinmi Prison in Zhengzhou (capital city of Henan Province) at an unknown date. He is currently held in Ward 9 and subjected to strict management.

Four Earlier Cases

Prior to Mr. Xu’s and Ms. Sun’s sentencing, four other Taikang County residents were sentenced to prison for practicing Falun Gong. Mr. Li Jie, Ms. Li Huiping, Ms. Gu Yurong, and Ms. Li Yanhua were arrested on May 29, 2020, while distributing Falun Gong informational materials. They were all sentenced around November 2020. Mr. Li received five years and the three women each received 2 or 3 years.

Mr. Li, a former elementary school teacher, was previously given three years following his arrest in October 2011.

Related reports:

Henan Man Given Second Prison Term for His Faith

Mr. Li Jie Tortured in Zhengzhou Prison

Mr. Li Jie, a Teacher in Zhoukou City, Henan Province, Suffers Concussion from Beatings