(Minghui.org) Four Falun Gong practitioners in Qiqihar City were sentenced to three to three-and-a-half years in prison. They were all over 70 years old.

Ms. Zhao Xiuzhi, 78; Ms. Li Guizhi, 76; Ms. Li Fengqin, 72; and Ms. Peng Shurong, 70; were arrested by officers from Liming Police Station. Ms. Wang Qiuyan, another practitioner, was also arrested. The five practitioners were taken while they were putting up Falun Gong informational posters in neighborhood communities on October 21, 2015. They were interrogated and later taken to the Qiqihar No. 1 Detention Center. Ms. Wang went on a hunger strike for nine days. She was released on November 3.

The four elderly practitioners were kept in the detention center and were tried in Jianhua District Court on April 18 and 20, 2016.

A day before the trial, court officials took Ms. Peng and Ms. Li to the courtroom and summoned their family members there. Ms. Peng's son was abusive and scolded her, and then he knelt down and begged her to renounce Falun Gong and fire her attorney. The court promised to go light on her sentence if she dismissed the attorney. Ms. Peng succumbed to their pressure and agreed to dismiss her lawyer.

The court issued admission cards to any family member who pressured Ms. Peng or Ms. Li. Other family members were not allowed to enter the courtroom on the trial date.

Ms. Li Fengqin had many ulcers in her mouth for over a month prior to the trial and could not eat or sleep. Her attorney requested the court to release her, but was denied. On the day of trial, she had to drag herself from the car to the trial room.

The court sentenced the four practitioners six weeks later.

Qiqihar Jianhua District Court contact info:Zhang Fang, presiding judge (female): +86-452-2565327 (Office),+86-138-36293888 (Cell)Shi Yan, deputy judge: +86-452-2561214 (Office), +86-139-45268058 (Cell)