(Minghui.org) Ms. Zhang Haihong, 56, in Changchun City, Jilin Province was admitted to the Jilin Province Women’s Prison on January 25, 2024, while her appeal against a two-year prison term was still pending.
Ms. Zhang was sentenced in November 2023 for practicing Falun Gong, a mind-body practice that has been persecuted by the Chinese Communist Party since July 1999. Her family found out about her prison transfer from an insider but has not received an official notice from the authorities. They also do not understand why their loved one was admitted to prison while they were still waiting for the result of her appeal case.
Latest Arrest and Sentencing
Ms. Zhang was arrested on June 14, 2023. Several officers from the Ziyou Boulevard Police Station, including Gu Qifeng (+86-15904409696), broke into her home that day and confiscated more than twelve Falun Gong books and over 400 banknotes printed with Falun Gong messages (these imprinted banknotes are a way to raise awareness of the persecution).
Both Ms. Zhang and her husband, Mr. Tian Zidong (also a Falun Gong practitioner), were taken to a local detention center after the police raid. Ms. Zhang was found to have high blood pressure during the required physical examination and was denied admission. She was taken back to the police station and given another physical examination the next day. The police managed to get her admitted to the Changchun City Supervision Center Detention Center. They released her husband on bail that day.
Prosecutor Gao Di (+86-431-85887044) of the Chaoyang District Procuratorate indicted Ms. Zhang and forwarded her case to the Chaoyang District Court on September 14.
Judge Li Peng (+86-431-88559351) held a virtual hearing of Ms. Zhang’s case on October 12 without informing her family. She was sentenced to two years and fined 5,000 yuan about one month later.
Ms. Zhang was admitted to Division One of the Jilin Province Women’s Prison on January 25, 2024 while her appeal case was still pending.
Ms. Zhang’s sentencing dealt a heavy blow to her elderly parents and parents-in-law, who rely on her for care. Her school-age child also struggles to cope.
Past Persecution: Two One-Year Forced Labor Terms
Ms. Zhang began practicing Falun Gong in 1994 and has been repeatedly targeted for upholding her faith despite the 24 year long persecution.
She was arrested in November 2000 for attending a gathering of Falun Gong practitioners, and was given one month of criminal detention.
Officers from the Ziyou Boulevard Police Station arrested Ms. Zhang in 2002 and gave her one year of forced labor.
Ms. Zhang and two other practitioners were distributing Falun Gong informational materials on September 26, 2004 when they were reported to the police. Officers from the Lyuyuan District Police Station came and arrested the three practitioners.
The police kicked and punched Ms. Zhang while interrogating her at the police station. They also shocked her with electric batons. They gave her 15 days of detention the next day. After the 15-day detention expired, the police gave Ms. Zhang one year of forced labor at the Heizuizi Women’s Labor Camp in Changchun City.
Related Report:
56-Year-Old Jilin Woman Gets Two Years for Her Faith in Falun Gong
Copyright © 2024 Minghui.org. All rights reserved.
