(Minghui.org) Today's news from China includes incidents of persecution that took place in 5 cities or counties in 3 provinces, where at least 17 practitioners were recently persecuted for their belief.

1. [Suifenhe City, Heilongjiang Province] Five Practitioners Detained
2. [Tieling City, Liaoning Province] Nine Practitioners Face Trial
3. [Beijing] Ms. Zhang Yongmei Detained
4. [Fushun City, Liaoning Province] Ms. Wu Lixian Released from Prison
5. [Chengde City, Hebei Province] Ms. Rong Shujin Arrested

1. [Suifenhe City, Heilongjiang Province] Five Practitioners Detained

Mr. Zhang Zhong, Mr. Shen Yuguo, Ms. Wang Lei (also known as Wang Wei), Mr. Li Peng, and Mr. Jiang Feng were arrested by Suifenhe City police on the evening of January 18, 2024. They were placed under criminal detention.

2. [Tieling City, Liaoning Province] Nine Practitioners Face Trial

Changtu County practitioners Zhao Chunlin, Shi Guimin, Liu Zhiyong, Zhao Hongjie, Meng Guilan, Sun Wanliang, Wang Huafeng, Tian Wei, and Geng Ming were scheduled to be tried in the Changtu County Court at 10:00 a.m. on January 26, 2024.

3. [Beijing] Ms. Zhang Yongmei Detained

Ms. Zhang Yongmei of the Yanqing District was arrested at home by officers from the Xiadu Police Station on the morning of January 19, 2024. The police ransacked her place and seized her Falun Gong books and printouts.

Her son got a call from the police station that evening. He was told that his mother was given 15 days of detention because someone had reported her when she distributed Falun Gong flyers on January 18, 2024. She is being held in the Qiliqu Detention Center in Changping District.

4. [Fushun City, Liaoning Province] Ms. Wu Lixian Released from Prison

Ms. Wu Lixian was sentenced to four years and six months in prison by the Wanghua Court. She was incarcerated in the Liaoning Women’s Prison. She was released on January 14, 2024, after she finished the prison term.

5. [Chengde City, Hebei Province] Ms. Rong Shujin Arrested

Ms. Rong Shujin, 75, was arrested at home by four plainclothes officers from the Longhua County Domestic Security Division at around 9:00 p.m. on January 16, 2024. The officers ransacked her home as soon as they entered the place. They seized copies of recent articles published by Falun Gong’s founder, Zhuan Falun, Minghui Weekly, and 2024 calendars. She was ill and unable to sleep or eat for five days. She had bile reflux, bloating, and burping after she underwent gastric surgery. Despite her condition, they took her to the Domestic Security Division for interrogation and released her around 1:00 p.m.