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Four Falun Gong Practitioners in Gansu Province Sentenced to Prison Since January 2018

Oct. 5, 2018 |   By a Minghui correspondent in Gansu Province, China

(Minghui.org) Shortly after 77-year-old Ms. Zhang Jianhua was arrested again on July 19, 2018, the second arrest within the last 12 months, she was sentenced to 3 years in prison for practicing Falun Gong.

It was reported that Ms. Zhang has been transferred from Lanzhou No.1 Detention Center to Gansu Women's Prison in mid-August.

Ms. Zhang's latest prison term makes her the fourth Falun Gong practitioner in Gansu Province to be sentenced this year for their faith.

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a mind-body self-improvement practice persecuted by the communist regime since 1999.

Prior to Ms. Zhang's case, Ms. Wang Ruilin was sentenced to five years in prison around June and taken to Gansu Women's Prison in August. This is the second time that Ms. Wang has been imprisoned for her faith, after a three-year term between 2011 and 2014 at the same prison.

Ms. Zheng Shu, in the 60s, and Ms. Fang Jianping, 60, were sentenced to 3 and 4.5 years respectively on February 2, 2018. Both were taken to Gansu Women's Prison in mid-June.

In addition to the above-mentioned four practitioners, two other practitioners, Ms. Yuan Xiuying and Ms. Wang Xiongzhen, are also facing possible sentencing. Both women have been detained at Lanzhou No.1 Detention Center since their arrests on June 18, 2017.

Ms. Yuan's back was broken after she was chained and shackled by a guard at the detention center. The injury rendered her unable to sleep on her back and needing help to get out of bed. There was a protrusion on her back and she is in constant pain.

According to Ms. Yuan's lawyer who met with her on June 13, 2018, her body was recovering, but she was mentally distressed and dejected. The lawyer encouraged her to remain strong and not give up her faith.

On June 15, 2018, Ms. Wang's lawyer met with her. Her physical condition is also worrisome, and her family requested medical parole for her. The detention center head directed them to find the judge in charge of her case. But when her family met with the judge, he turned down their parole request.

Previous report:77-Year-Old Woman Held at Detention Center, Facing Possible SentencingWoman’s Back is Broken While Chained Up in Detention