(Minghui.org) A man in his 80s was sentenced to 16 months and was fined 3,000 yuan on July 2, 2026, for practicing Falun Gong, Minghui.org recently learned.
Mr. Xu Haifeng, of Jixian County, Heilongjiang Province, was arrested on December 5, 2025, after he was reported for distributing informational materials about Falun Gong. Officers from the Qianjin Police Station ransacked his home and confiscated his Falun Gong books and photos of the founder of Falun Gong. He has since been held at the Jixian County Detention Center.
The Baoqing County Court held a hearing of Mr. Xu’s case at the detention center on May 20, 2026. His lawyer entered a not guilty plea for him and testified against the police for searching Mr. Xu’s home without a warrant and signing the list of confiscated items without allowing him to review it. Mr. Xu also maintained that he didn’t violate any law in practicing Falun Gong or distributing information about it.
Mr. Xu was convicted on July 2, and he appealed. The Shuangyashan City Intermediate Court held a hearing of the case on August 18 and ruled to uphold the original verdict on September 11. He was admitted to the Shuangyashan Prison on September 17.
After Mr. Xu was arrested, his pension and low-income subsidy were suspended. His wife, in her late 70s, had to work on a vegetable farm to make ends meet. Her work day began at around 1 a.m., and she was paid 12 yuan per hour. To save on living costs, she doesn’t use a heater despite the cold weather. She also covers the medical costs for her younger brother, who is recovering from a stroke.
Mr. Xu used to suffer severe heart disease and tuberculosis. He almost had a mental breakdown when his son died at a young age. A friend suggested he practice Falun Gong. Shortly after he took up the practice, he regained his health. He was eager to introduce Falun Gong to more people by distributing the materials, only to be arrested and sentenced to prison.
Copyright © 1999-2026 Minghui.org. All rights reserved.
