(Minghui.org) A woman in her 80s was denied parole after she was sentenced to a 3.5-year term for her faith in Falun Gong, even though she is struggling with several serious medical conditions, including bladder cancer, a heart condition, and diabetes.
Ms. Zhao Ying of Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, was arrested on April 26, 2021, by two plainclothes officers. The police took her to the Tianhe District Detention Center the next day, but she was denied admission due to high blood pressure. The police made two more attempts to admit her over the next two days but were unsuccessful. She was released on bail on May 11, 2021. Officer Zhang from the Tangxia Police Station harassed her in late May and again in August 2021.
The mental pressure from the arrest and subsequent harassment took a toll on Ms. Zhao’s health. She fainted at home on December 12, 2021, and was diagnoised with bladder cancer. She operated on twice and had several rounds of chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
Despite Ms. Zhao’s condition, Tianhe District Police Department officers took her back into custody on August 1, 2024, and put her in the Tianhe District Detention Center. She was made to stand trial in the Haizhu District Court on September 5 and sentenced to 3.5 years with a 5,000-yuan fine on October 29, 2024.
In addition to the bladder cancer, Ms. Zhao is also coping with heart disease and diabetes. Yet the authorities have refused to release her on medical parole. Her family is very worried about her.
80-Year-Old Guangdong Woman Stands Trial for Practicing Falun Gong