(Minghui.org) After Yang Haigang was appointed secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Committee (PLAC) of Jiaozhou City, Shandong Province, around 2021, numerous local Falun Gong practitioners were arrested and most of them have been sentenced to prison.
Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a spiritual discipline that has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999. As an extra-judiciary agency overseeing the judiciary and public security organizations, the PLAC has been the mastermind behind the persecution policies and specific operations.
In addition to Yang Haigang, Yang Shengjiang (no relation) with the Jiaozhou City Police Department has also been instrumental in the intensified persecution of Falun Gong since 2021, personally ordering the local police to make group arrests and harass practitioners.
Below is a recap of some of the significant instances of persecution.
On June 2, 2021, the Jiaozhou City Police Department dispatched over 200 officers to arrest more than 40 practitioners in one day. To date, at least seven practitioners have been sentenced to prison. Among them, Mr. Yu Baiqing was sentenced to eight years and fined 50,000 yuan, Mr. Ji Jinmu was sentenced to four years and fined 32,000 yuan, Mr. Xu Yanzhong was sentenced four years, Ms. Song Jihua, Ms. Ji Hong and Ms. Zhao Youqin were each given three and a half years, and Ms. Jiao Ting’e was sentenced to a year and a half.
In addition, Ms. Gao Xu’e was scheduled to stand trial in the Huangdao District Court on September 25, 2023. It’s not clear if she has been sentenced. Ms. Wang Lian was tried in the Huangdao District Court on June 9, 2023, and acquitted. Ms. Song Guiqin and Mr. Song Xinjian (no relation) were released on bail and had their pensions suspended. Ms. Zhuang Zejie and Mr. Huang Yuqiang were also released on bail.
Ms. Zhang Guiying was arrested at home by Fuan Police Station officers in November 2021. Her Falun Gong books and portrait of Falun Gong’s founder were confiscated. She was detained for about three weeks.
Ms. Zhang Xiulan was arrested at home on December 16, 2021. Officer Chen Zhijie and three others with the Zhongyun Police Station deceived her daughter into opening the door by pretending to be property management personnel. She was sentenced to eight years by the Huangdao District Court on August 23, 2022.
Mr. Zhang Duncheng, an employee of the Jiaozhou City No. 7 Oil Company, was arrested by Sanlihe Police Station officers on January 18, 2022. He was sentenced to one year in prison.
More than ten officers from the Zhongyun Police Station smashed Mr. Wang Yijing’s door on March 7, 2024 and broke in. They arrested him, his wife Ms. Liu Yumei, and their ten guests: Ms. Wang Ming’e, Ms. Song Yu’e, Ms. Liu Yufeng, Ms. Kuang Shuzhen, Ms. Sui Meicai, Ms. Kuang Xiuzhen, Ms. Wang Peifen, Ms. Xue Guifang, Ms. Xue Guiyan, and Ms. Yan Guizhen.
The couple and their guests were studying Falun Gong books together. It was apparent that the police had been monitoring them and knew about the gathering.
One of the guests was 86 years old. She was so terrified by the police raid that she passed out. Her daughter-in-law, who was also there, revived her.
Ms. Zhou Minglan was arrested by Madian Police Station officers on March 22, 2024. When her husband went to the police station to demand her release, the police gave him a copy of her one-month criminal detention notice issued by the Jiaozhou City Police Department. A month later, instead of releasing Ms. Zhou, the police took her to the Qingdao City Detention Center. Her family has yet to be updated about her case.
Shandong Province: Overview of Falun Gong Persecution Cases Reported in 2021
Jiaozhou City, Shandong Province: 16 Falun Gong Practitioners Arrested in One Day
Targeted in Group Arrest, Kind Man Sentenced to Four Years for His Faith
Shandong Man Given Eight Years and a Heavy Fine for His Faith
Woman Walks Again After Being Bedridden for 15 Years, Faces Trial for Practicing Falun Gong
Shandong Woman Gets 3.5 Years, Denied Family Visits Since Prison Admission Since January 2023
Woman Serving Eight Years for Her Faith Denied Medical Parole Despite Severe Condition