(Minghui.org) Two women in Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, were sentenced to prison in late December 2020 for refusing to give up their faith in Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline that has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999.

A dozen officers broke into Ms. Yu Fangzhuang’s home around 7 a.m. on July 1, 2020. Without showing a search warrant or their IDs, the officers ransacked the 88-year-old woman’s home and confiscated over 20 of her Falun Gong books, more than 130 Falun Gong booklets, a photo of Falun Gong’s founder, and a media player that she used to play the Falun Gong exercise music.

Ms. Liu Hexiang, around 60, who happened to be visiting Ms. Yu at the time, was also arrested. The police proceeded to ransack Ms. Liu’s home and confiscated her Falun Gong books, three printers, a computer, and office supplies.

Both women were interrogated for 12 hours in the Kuaizixiang Police Station. Ms. Yu was released on bail around 8 p.m. due to her advanced age. Ms. Liu was taken to the Nanchang City No.1 Detention Center.

The two women were tried together in the Xihu District Court on December 21, 2020. Ms. Liu was sentenced to three years and fined 10,000 yuan. Ms. Yu was given six months and fined 2,000 yuan.

The court-appointed lawyer raised the question of Ms. Yu’s age, suggesting that she shouldn’t be taken into custody to serve time. The judge replied that he would make a decision on January 18, 2021.

Ms. Liu has now been taken to the Jiangxi Province Women’s Prison. Ms. Yu is still at home, awaiting the judge’s decision.

Prior to this latest incident, Ms. Yu was arrested several times over the past two decades for talking to people about Falun Gong.