(Minghui.org) Ms. Zhang Yulian of Nanyang City, Henan Province, was among the more than 160 local Falun Gong practitioners arrested for their faith on August 30 and 31, 2019. After spending one and a half years in detention, she was sentenced to three years and five months in prison and fined 5,000 yuan in March 2021.

Prior to her latest sentencing, Ms. Zhang was incarcerated for a total of more than nine years for her faith in Falun Gong, a spiritual and meditation discipline that has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999.

Over Two Years of Detention Followed by a Three-Year Prison Sentence

Ms. Zhang was arrested in December 2000 when she went to Beijing to appeal for the right to practice Falun Gong and was detained at the Shangzhuang Detention Center in Nanyang.

Ms. Zhang displayed a piece of paper with information about Falun Gong on the window of her cell on the evening of November 23, 2002. After the guard on duty found out about it, he verbally abused her, dragged her out of her bed, held her down, and handcuffed her. As they walked out, the guard kept cursing her.

Two days later, Ms. Zhang submitted a complaint about the abuse to the director of the detention center but never received a response. Around the same time, other practitioners also protested the persecution and asked the guard why he verbally abused Ms. Zhang. In retaliation, the guard handcuffed Ms. Zhang, dragged her out of the cell, and slapped her about the face.

Torture Reenactment: Severe beating

After spending more than two years in the Shangzhuang Detention Center, Ms. Zhang was transferred to Nanyang City No. 2 Detention Center. She was later sentenced to a three-year term by the Wancheng District Court and taken to Xinxiang Labor Camp on May 20, 2003.

Second Prison Term in Four Years

Ms. Zhang was arrested again in a police sweep on April 24, 2008. Eleven of the practitioners, including Ms. Zhang, Ms. Fan Yanli, Mr. Zhu Youde, and Ms. Xu Lianxiao, were tried by the Wolong District Court on October 9. Ms. Zhang was sentenced to four years in prison.

Ms. Fan passed out during the hearing due to her severe medical condition. She was released on October 11 and passed away on October 27. She was 36 years old.

Latest Arrest

Ms. Zhang’s latest arrest was in August 2019, when the police orchestrated the arrests of over 160 practitioners. The police had begun to monitor the practitioners in April 2019. The officers and residential committee staffers visited the practitioners at home, collecting information about their IDs and household registrations. Most practitioners also had their photos taken.

After spending over one and a half years in detention, Ms. Zhang was sentenced along with thirteen other practitioners in March 2021.

The names and prison terms of the 13 practitioners are as follows:

Ms. He Ximei: 9 years in prison and fined 30,000 yuanMs. Cao Ailan: 8 years in prison and fined 30,000 yuanMr. Wang Tiezhuang: 7 years in prison and fined 20,000 yuanMr. Tie Linfeng (Ms. He’s husband): 4 years in prison and fined 10,000 yuanMs. Han Lanying (nearly 80): 4 years in prison and fined 5,000 yuanMs. Li Meiyu: 4 years in prison and fined 5,000 yuanMs. Yuan Xifeng: 3 years in prison and fined 5,000 yuanMr. Kui Yingxiang (in his 80): 3 years in prison and fined 5,000 yuanMr. Zhang Xibin (80): 3 years in prison and fined 5,000 yuanMs. Yuan Daling: 3-year suspended term and fined 5,000 yuanMr. Jia Jingan: 3-year suspended term and fined 5,000 yuanMs. Liu Furong: 3-year suspended term and fined 5,000 yuanMr. Wei Jie: 2-year suspended term and fined 5,000 yuan

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