(Minghui.org) Today's news from China includes incidents of persecution that took place in 12 cities or counties in 8 provinces, where at least 25 practitioners were recently persecuted for their belief.

1. [Xiangcheng City, Henan Province] Ms. Zhang Xiuping Sentenced
2. [Jiujiang City, Jiangxi Province] Four Practitioners Detained
3. [Suihua City, Heilongjiang Province] Seven Practitioners Sentenced
4. [Dalian City, Liaoning Province] Ms. Zhu Weijun Sentenced; Ms. Liu Yuqin and Ms. Xu Changlan Detained
5. [Tianjin] Three Practitioners Arrested
6. [Shen County, Shandong Province] Mr. Xue Cunlin Detained
7. [Linying County, Henan Province] Mr. Liang Junde Detained
8. [Chifeng City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region] Ms. Zhao Chunhua Arrested
9. [Haifeng County, Guangdong Province] Mr. Lin Shiquan Held in Brainwashing Center
10. [Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province] Additional Information on Mr. Chen Shuang's Sentence and Appeal
11. [Xuchang City, Henan Province] Ms. Hou Yinglian Tried
12. [Qingyang City, Gansu Province] Ms. Qiang Weixiu Sentenced

1. [Xiangcheng City, Henan Province] Ms. Zhang Xiuping Sentenced

Ms. Zhang Xiuping, over 60, was arrested when she went through customs in September, 2019 when she was on her way to visit her son in Australia. She was sentenced to four and a half years in prison by the Xiangcheng City Court.

2. [Jiujiang City, Jiangxi Province] Four Practitioners Detained

Ms. Zhao Ermao, her sister Ms. Zhao Simao, Mr. Yu Songsi, Ms. Fang, and Ms. Fang’s husband were arrested at Ms. Fang’s home and taken to a police station on July 2, 2019. Mr. Yu’s home was ransacked by police. Ms. Fang was released because of her poor health. The other four are being held at the Jiujiang County Detention Center.

3. [Suihua City, Heilongjiang Province] Seven Practitioners Sentenced

Ms. Gao Jinshu, Ms. Wang Fang, Ms. Wang Fuhua, Ms. Bai Xia, Ms. Zhao Tingting, Mr. Yang Chuanhou, and Mr. Song Hongwei were sentenced to one to two years in prison by the Anda City Court on May 24, 2019. They appealed.

4. [Dalian City, Liaoning Province] Ms. Zhu Weijun Sentenced; Ms. Liu Yuqin and Ms. Xu Changlan Detained

Ms. Zhu Weijun was sentenced to four years in prison and fined 10,000 yuan by the Shahekou District Court on June 28, 2019.

Ms. Liu Yuqin and Ms. Xu Changlan from the Ganjingzi District was arrested by officers from the Ganjingzijie Police Station after someone reported them when they gave out software to break through China's Internet blockade. Ms. Liu was released on July 5, 2019. Ms. Xu’s situation is unknown.

Parties involved in persecuting them:Ganjingzijie Police Station: +86-411-86672591

5. [Tianjin] Three Practitioners Arrested

Ms. Xu Ceng from the Baodi District visited Ms. Wang Xiuzhi, who was sick, in Changyi City on July 3, 2019. Ms. Wang’s daughter-in-law reported her, and she was arrested by officers from the Changyi Domestic Security Division. Ms. Xu was released six hours later.

Ms. Li Xiuxia and Ms. Zhang from the Jizhou District were arrested on June 24, 2019 when they were talking to people about the persecution of Falun Gong in the Cuipingshan Open Market. Their homes were ransacked.

6. [Shen County, Shandong Province] Mr. Xue Cunlin Detained

Mr. Xue Cunlin from Heya Village, Dawangzhai Township handed out Falun Gong fliers on May 14, 2019. Someone reported him to police. Officers from the Dawangzhai Township Police Station arrested him, took him to a detention center, subjected him to 15 days detention, and extorted 2,000 yuan from him.

7. [Linying County, Henan Province] Mr. Liang Junde Detained

Mr. Liang Junde was arrested by officers from the Linying County Domestic Security Division on June 24, 2019. His home was ransacked. Mr. Liang is being held at the Linying County Detention Center.

Parties involved in persecuting Mr. Liang:Linying County Police Department: +86-395-8861727Linying County Detention Center: +86-395-5659230, +86-395-5677205Chengguan Police Station, Linying County: +86-395-8861771

8. [Chifeng City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region] Ms. Zhao Chunhua Arrested

Ms. Zhao Chunhua was arrested at home on the morning of July 2, 2019. Officers took her to the police department, photographed her, dragged her to a metal chair in an interrogation room, and interrogated her. She was released after 4 p.m.

9. [Haifeng County, Guangdong Province] Mr. Lin Shiquan Held in Brainwashing Center

Mr. Lin Shiquan of Meilong Town was arrested at home in May, 2019 by officers led by Lin Xiaodan, deputy director of the Haifeng County Police Department. The officers confiscated his computer, electric car, and Falun Gong books. Mr. Lin was taken to the Sanshui Brainwashing Center. Further details are unknown.

10. [Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province] Additional Information on Mr. Chen Shuang's Sentence and Appeal

Mr. Chen Shuang was sentenced to seven years in prison by the Longgang District Court in July 2018. His appeal was rejected by the Shenzhen City Intermediate Court.

It was recently confirmed by Minghui.org that the prosecution evidence against him included a testimony from his relative Zhang, confirming that Mr. Chen practices Falun Gong; a person named Luo Maozhong accused Mr. Chen of making 13 banners with the words “Falun Dafa is good” on them. Some phone numbers were also found on Mr. Chen's computer.

Mr. Chen's lawyer argued that no law has ever declared Falun Gong illegal in China so his client should not be charged.

11. [Xuchang City, Henan Province] Ms. Hou Yinglian Tried

The Weidu District tried Ms. Hou Yinglian at the Xuchang Detention Center on the morning of June 26, 2019. The lawyer defended her not guilty and rebutted the prosecutor’s charges item by item. He said the court should release Ms. Hou.

Ms. Hou also defended herself during the trial and said she firmly believed there was nothing wrong with practicing Falun Gong.

The trial lasted over an hour but no decision was announced. Only three of Ms. Hou’s family members and relatives were allowed to attend the trial. Ms. Hou’s husband was not allowed to be present.

12. [Qingyang City, Gansu Province] Ms. Qiang Weixiu Sentenced

Ms. Qiang Weixiu was tried by the Zhenyuan County Court on March 12, 2019. She was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment. She is appealing to the upper authorities.