Additional Persecution News from China – April 12, 2023 (14 Reports)

(Minghui.org) Today’s news from China includes incidents of persecution that took place in 12 cities or counties in 7 provinces, where at least 19 practitioners were recently persecuted for their belief.

1. [Weifang City, Shandong Province] Ms. Yu Meixia Sentenced to Prison
2. [Yantai City, Shandong Province] Chen Yancui Arrested
3. [Tangyuan County, Heilongjiang Province] Lu Haihong and Jiang Guirong Arrested and Detained
4. [Yantai City, Shandong Province] Mr. Wang Houde and His Wife Ms. Zhou Fenglan Arrested
5. [Fushun City, Liaoning Province] Ms. Wang Jiemei Transferred to Prison
6. [Liaocheng City, Shandong Province] Mr. Liu Mingsen Tried in Court
7. [Chenzhou City, Hunan Province] Ms. Li Xiangzhen Sentenced to Eighteen Months in Prison
8. [Liaocheng City, Shandong Province] The Case Against Ms. Ren Leju Submitted to the Court
9. [Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province] Mr. Ren Peng Detained
10. [Zhaoyuan City, Shandong Province] Mr. Du Zhentian Detained Imprisoned
11. [Jilin City, Jilin Province] Ms. Lei Xiuxiang Arrested and Detained
12. [Tieling City, Liaoning Province] Mr. Li Zhongyuan Released
13. [Jiamusi City, Heilongjiang Province] Ms. Cheng Yulan Taken to the Heilongjiang Province Women’s Prison
14. [Xingtai City, Hebei Province] Mr. Zhang Baozhong Taken to the Jidong Prison

1. [Weifang City, Shandong Province] Ms. Yu Meixia Sentenced to Prison

Ms. Yu Meixia is a senior teacher at the Wutu Vocational Middle School in Changle County. She was sentenced to three years and six months on April 4, 2022 for talking to people about Falun Gong. She appealed to the Weifang City Intermediate Court but the original verdict was upheld. She was taken to the Shandong Province Women’s Prison in late March 2023.

2. [Yantai City, Shandong Province] Chen Yancui Arrested

Chen Yancui was arrested by officers from the Jinling Town Police Station on the evening of February 7, 2023 for distributing information about Falun Gong. Her home was ransacked that evening. The police confiscated 17 Falun Gong books, 20 amulets, and a photo of Falun Gong’s founder.

3. [Tangyuan County, Heilongjiang Province] Lu Haihong and Jiang Guirong Arrested and Detained

Lu Haihong and Jiang Guirong were caught by surveillance cameras when they distributed information about Falun Gong in the Yangguanghepan Community. They were arrested by officers from the Dongcheng Police Station around 3 p.m. on April 8, 2023. Their homes were ransacked. The police confiscated their computers, cell phones, Falun Gong books, and pamphlets. The practitioners were placed under 15-day detention and were sent to the Tangyuan County Detention House.

4. [Yantai City, Shandong Province] Mr. Wang Houde and His Wife Ms. Zhou Fenglan Arrested

Mr. Wang Houde and his wife Ms. Zhou Fenglan from Penglai District were followed home by three plainclothes officers around 3 p.m. on April 3, 2023. More officers were called in and ransacked their home. The police confiscated their Falun Gong books, photo of Falun Gong’s founder, posters and other personal belongings. The couple was taken to the Xiguan Police Station in Penglai District for interrogation but they were released later.

5. [Fushun City, Liaoning Province] Ms. Wang Jiemei Transferred to Prison

Ms. Wang Jiemei’s family was informed on April 9, 2023 that she was transferred from the No. 1 Detention Center to the No. 2 Women’s Prison of Liaoning Province.

6. [Liaocheng City, Shandong Province] Mr. Liu Mingsen Tried in Court

Mr. Liu Mingsen was tried in the Dong’a Court on March 30, 2023. His lawyer and his wife were not allowed in the courtroom during the trial.

7. [Chenzhou City, Hunan Province] Ms. Li Xiangzhen Sentenced to Eighteen Months in Prison

Ms. Li Xiangzhen from Anren County was arrested on the evening of September 26, 2022 along with three other practitioners. Ms. Li Xiangzhen was tried in court on March 7, 2023. She was later sentenced to eighteen months in prison and fined 3000 yuan. She will be released on March 7, 2024.

Three other practitioners including Liu Fani, Li Hualin and Li Guilan, were each sentenced to six months in prison and fined 1000 yuan. They have been released.

8. [Liaocheng City, Shandong Province] The Case Against Ms. Ren Leju Submitted to the Court

The case against Ms. Ren Leiju has been submitted to the Dong’a Court by officers from the Liaoda Police Station around March 30, 2023.

9. [Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province] Mr. Ren Peng Detained

Mr. Ren Peng was taken to the Xiaoshan Detention Center.

10. [Zhaoyuan City, Shandong Province] Mr. Du Zhentian Imprisoned

Mr. Du Zhentian was transferred from the Longkou Detention Center to the Shandong Province prison on February 16, 2023.

11. [Jilin City, Jilin Province] Ms. Lei Xiuxiang Arrested and Detained

Ms. Lei Xiuxiang from Fengman District was arrested at her home by five officers including the deputy of the Dachangtun Police Station at 7 p.m. on March 31, 2023. The police ransacked her home and confiscated her Falun Gong books, a photo of Falun Gong’s founder, and a printer. Ms. Lei is currently held in the Jilin City Detention Center.

12. [Tieling City, Liaoning Province] Mr. Li Zhongyuan to Be Released

Mr. Li Zhongyuan from the Yinzhou District was arrested on October 20, 2015, for filing a lawsuit against former CCP leader Jiang Zemin for persecuting Falun Gong. He was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison. Mr. Li will be released on April 20, 2023.

13. [Jiamusi City, Heilongjiang Province] Ms. Cheng Yulan Taken to the Heilongjiang Province Women’s Prison

Ms. Cheng Yulan was arrested on July 12, 2022, sentenced to 21 months, and fined 10,000 yuan by the Xiangyang District Court on January 18, 2023. Her family received a letter from the Heilongjiang Province Women’s Prison on April 4, 2023, which informed them that she had been taken there on March 30, 2023. The prison stated that the family could visit her two days later on April 6. It’s not clear whether they were allowed to visit her.

14. [Xingtai City, Hebei Province] Mr. Zhang Baozhong Taken to the Jidong Prison

Mr. Zhang Baozhong, in his 50s, stood trial at the Xiangdu District Court on August 19, 2022. The judge first gave him an eighteen month probation, but later changed it to an eighteen month prison term. Despite his high blood pressure and lung condition, he was taken to the Jidong No.4 Prison. His family was informed of his imprisonment on March 17, 2023. He is scheduled to be released on March 24, 2024.