(Minghui.org) Four residents of Qujing City, Yunnan Province, were sentenced to prison on April 19, 2024 for their shared faith in Falun Gong, a mind-body practice that has been persecuted by the Chinese Communist Party since July 1999.
Ms. Li Hongmei, 45, was sentenced to five years and fined 10,000 yuan. She was previously sentenced to 4 years following a prior arrest on November 11, 2014.
Ms. Xu Yamei, 38, was sentenced to four years with an 8,000-yuan fine. Her latest sentencing was preceded by a prior 3-year prison sentence given after her arrest in June 2017.
Mr. Chen Zhongcun, in his 60s, and Ms. Feng Zhixian, were both given two years and fined 5,000 yuan. Mr. Chen was previously harassed multiple times over the years for his faith in Falun Gong.
All four practitioners were most recently arrested on July 11, 2023. At least six other local practitioners were also arrested on the same day or the day prior. The arresting officers were from the Qilin District Police Department and its subordinate Jianning Police Station and Liaokuo Police Station. Ms. Li and Ms. Xu were taken to the Qilin District Detention Center. Mr. Chen and Ms. Feng were released on bail hours later.
The Qilin District Court tried the four practitioners jointly on March 19, 2024 and found there was insufficient evidence to charge them in the first place. Instead of dropping the case against them, the Qilin District Procuratorate had the police fabricate more evidence. The court held a second hearing on April 7, 2024 and convicted all four practitioners on April 19. Presiding judge Gong Qiangfei, judges Zhu Xiaoer and Cao Lijing, and clerk Liu Yuyan signed the verdicts.
It is unclear whether Ms. Li and Ms. Xu have been transferred to prison and whether Mr. Chen and Ms. Feng have been taken back into custody.
Qujing City, Yunnan Province: Ten Arrested in Two Days for Their Faith in Falun Gong