(Minghui.org) Today's news from China includes incidents of persecution that took place in 8 cities or counties in 6 provinces, where at least 16 practitioners were recently persecuted for their belief.

1. [Guiyang City, Guizhou Province] Four Practitioners Taken to Prison
2. [Chaoyang City, Liaoning Province] Several Practitioners Held in Detention Center
3. [Anshan City, Liaoning Province] Practitioner Zhang Xu Faces Trial
4. [Chongqing] Ms. Jiang Dejun Arrested
5. [Songyuan City, Jilin Province] Ms. Zhang Ruixia Sentenced to Prison
6. [Qixia City, Shandong Province] Ms. Mou Xiaoqin Held in Detention Center
7. [Xinji City, Hebei Province] Ms. Geng Wenping Detained
8. [Gong’an County, Hubei Province] Ms. Yu Kaiju Harassed Several Times

1. [Guiyang City, Guizhou Province] Four Practitioners Taken to Prison

Mr. Li Binyang was sentenced to four and a half years in prison, and has been taken to Duyun Prison. Ms. Song Xiaomei and Mr. Chen Jinhua were both sentenced to three years and two months in prison. Ms. Liu Yulan was sentenced to three years in prison and has been taken to Yang’ai Prison.

2. [Chaoyang City, Liaoning Province] Several Practitioners Held in Detention Center

Practitioners Zhu Lingli, Zhou Minghuan, Hu Guoyun, Meng Fanru, of Chaoyang City, and two or three other practitioners, whose names are unknown, were arrested around July 1, 2024. They are currently held in Chaoyang City Detention Center.

In addition, practitioners Lyu Wentao and Lyu Yansong are also held in Chaoyang City Detention Center, and their cases have been turned over to the procuratorate.

3. [Anshan City, Liaoning Province] Practitioner Zhang Xu Faces Trial

Practitioner Zhang Xu’s case was submitted to Lishan District Court on June 23, 2024. The court later notified Zhang that he would be tried on July 4 and proposed to appoint a lawyer for him. Zhang firmly it.

At 9:30 am on July 9, 2024, lawyer Xie Yanyi went to Lishan District Court to submit paperwork to represent Zhang as a non-lawyer defender. Xie was subjected to all kinds of red tape and obstruction by the presiding judge. After Xie’s insistence and efforts, the hearing was postponed to July 17. Although the court has accepted the legal paperwork submitted, Xie is still waiting for the court’s approval to represent Zhang.

4. [Chongqing] Ms. Jiang Dejun Arrested

Ms. Jiang Dejun from Hechuan District talked to a student about Falun Gong in mid-June 2024 and was reported to the police by the student’s parents. She was subsequently arrested and is being held in Hechuan District Detention Center.

5. [Songyuan City, Jilin Province] Ms. Zhang Ruixia Sentenced to Prison

Four officers from the Domestic Security Division of the Second Branch of Songyuan City Police Department posed as community workers and knocked on Ms. Zhang Ruixia’s door on December 2, 2023. They tricked her into opening the door and searched every room. They confiscated her Falun Gong books, a computer, some notes, keepsakes, and several TF cards. She was taken to the local Shanyou Detention Center that evening. She was later sentenced to three years in prison, but is currently out on bail due to her poor health.

6. [Qixia City, Shandong Province] Ms. Mou Xiaoqin Held in Detention Center

Ms. Mou Xiaoqin, 51, from Aiqiankuang Village, Xicheng Town, Qixia City, was arrested at home on April 15, 2024, by officers of the Debiao Police Station in Changchun City, Jilin Province. She is being held in Nong’an Detention Center in Changchun City.

7. [Xinji City, Hebei Province] Ms. Geng Wenping Detained

Ms. Geng Wenping was arrested on the morning of June 18, 2024. She has been released on July 2 after 14 days of detention.

8. [Gong’an County, Hubei Province] Ms. Yu Kaiju Harassed Several Times

Since 2020, officers from Douhudi Town Police Station have placed Ms. Yu Kaiju under surveillance. Periodically, officers including Sang Chiliang and Wen Jun would go to the residential community where Ms. Yu lived to review surveillance footage and keep track of her daily activities.

In early July 2024, Sang, Wen and several others looked into the surveillance footage for several days consecutively. They knocked on Ms. Yu’s door several times. During this period, Ms. Yu’s electric car that she parked downstairs disappeared. As a result of the harassment, Ms. Yu couldn’t use her cell phone and has been forced to live away from home.