(Minghui.org) Ms. Zhang Chunxian from Urumqi City was sentenced to prison after having been sentenced to forced labor twice and imprisoned once for her faith in Falun Gong.
Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a mind-body practice based on the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. It has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since July 1999.
Ms. Zhang, 48, was most recently arrested on December 31, 2016, for distributing informational materials about the persecution of Falun Gong.
She had two hearings in the Xinshi District Court, first on November 24, 2017, and again on March 15, 2018. Her lawyer from Beijing entered a not guilty plea for her, as no law in China criminalizes Falun Gong. Ms. Zhang also testified against officer Zhang Jianjun, who coerced prosecution witnesses into giving false evidence against her.
Ms. Zhang was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison in June. Her appeal to the Urumqi Intermediate Court was rejected in early September.
Past History of Persecution
Shocked with Electric Batons in Forced Labor Camp
Ms. Zhang was arrested in January 2001for posting stickers with Falun Gong information. She was taken to the Wulabo Forced Labor Camp on March 31, 2001, and detained for three years.
The guards shocked her with three electric batons simultaneously to try to force her to renounce Falun Gong. Ms. Zhang's hands and feet became so swollen that she could not bend her arms, wear shoes or stand. The wounds secreted greenish puss.
She was also forced to watch videos that slandered Falun Gong every day.
Deprived of Sleep in Brainwashing Center
Ms. Zhang was arrested for the second time at her workplace and taken to the Banfanggou Brainwashing Center on April 25, 2004. She was deprived of sleep for refusing to stop practicing Falun Gong.
Sentenced to Prison
Ms. Zhang was arrested on February 15, 2006, for purchasing a copy machine to help other practitioners make informational brochures about Falun Gong. She was taken to the Dongzhanlu Women's Forced Labor Camp. She was later sentenced to four years in prison and transferred to Xinjiang Women's Prison in October 2007.
Forced to Attend Brainwashing Sessions
Soon after her release from prison in February 2010, Ms. Zhang was taken to a brainwashing center and held for several months.
She was arrested on February 15, 2012, after someone reported her to the authorities. She was transferred to a forced labor camp one month later and held for over 18 months.
She was released in August 2013 when the Chinese regime abolished the forced labor camp system (in reality, the forced labor camps were renamed and many practitioners continued to be detained). Immediately after her release, she was taken to a brainwashing center.
Arrested for Filing Lawsuit
Ms. Zhang filed a complaint in September 2015 against former Chinese Communist Party head Jiang Zemin who launched the persecution of Falun Gong. She was arrested at her workplace on February 26, 2016, and held for 15 days.
