(Minghui.org) A Linzhao County resident and her two guests were reading Falun Gong books on April 13 when police broke in and arrested them. The woman's husband returned home not long afterwards, only to be taken into custody, as well.

The police confiscated a computer, printer, Falun Gong books, and materials from the home shared by Ms. Sang Xiaochun and her husband Mr. Wang Wenlong. Ms. Sang was released later that night, but Mr. Wang remains detained.

The two guests were body searched. The police confiscated 1,000 yuan in cash from Mr. Wen Weilong and later ransacked Mr. Yan Yuanjing's home. Mr. Yan was shocked with electric batons during the interrogation. He has been released, but Mr. Wen is still in detention.

Both Mr. Wen and Mr. Wang were sentenced to prison and brutally tortured in the past for their faith in Falun Gong. Their families are worried whether they will face the same punishment for exercising their constitutional right to freedom of belief.

Mr. Wen Twice Sentenced in the Past

Mr. Wen was born in November 12, 1976 in Lintao County, Gansu Province. When he was working in Beijing in1998, he discovered Falun Gong and began practicing it.

He recovered from the many ailments that he had and began abiding by the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Soon his view of life and the world changed. He became considerate of others and found peace in his heart.

After the persecution was launched in July 1999, he was threatened and harassed frequently that summer. They took away his Falun Gong books and items related to his practice, and held him in custody for over 20 hours.

He went to Beijing to appeal for Falun Gong in November 16, 2000, where he was arrested. He was detained and beaten, and began a hunger strike in protest. Three days later, he was escorted back to Lintao County. After he was released, he was placed under close surveillance.

In January 1, 2001, he went to appeal again, arrested at Tiananmen Square, and held in Haidian Detention Center. He was searched, beaten, doused with cold, frigid water, forced to sit on a hard board all day, and subjected to force-feeding.

He was again escorted back to Lintao County and detained on January 16, 2001. He held another hunger strike and was force-fed brutally. He was also sent to Lintao County Hospital in critical condition, where he was injected with an unknown drug.

Mr. Wen was sentenced to four years in prison in April of 2002, and held in Lanzhou Prison. He was transferred to Dingxi Prison in November of 2002. He suffered beatings, electric shock, and forced labor while in prison.

When he was released in June 5, 2004, he was harassed and threatened repeatedly by the local police.

On March 13, 2008, Mr. Wen was arrested at work. Again his house was ransacked. His television, satellite dish, printer, and Falun Gong books and material were taken. He was held at the police department and locked to a tiger bench for 24 hours.

He was tortured many times while in custody. He was beaten to the point where his buttocks were covered in dark bruises. His head was submerged in water, and shackles were wrapped around his neck, which made him pass out.

Torture demonstration: Forced to sit on a small bench for extended periods of time

The Lintao County Court sentenced Mr. Wen to six years in prison on September 28, 2008. He appealed, but the Dingxi Intermediate People's Court upheld the original verdict.

He was held in Tianshui Prison on January 15, 2009 and suffered all sorts of ill-treatment there. He was forced to sit on a small bench for an extended period of time, and was subjected to brainwashing by watching slanderous programs about Falun Gong. He was force-fed urine, deprived of sleep, and beaten repeatedly.

After he was finally released on May 13, 2013, the local police continued to harass him. They photographed him, drew blood from him, and forcibly cut his hair.

Over the sixteen years of brutal persecution, Mr. Wen and his family have suffered enormous damage physically, mentally, and financially. His mother passed away after she endured years of mental anguish and stress. His father is in a state of chronic delirium, and he would often get lost when he goes out.

Married Couple Repeatedly Arrested

Mr. Wang Yalong and his wife Ms. Sang Xiaochun are both from Lintao County. Mr. Wang started to practice Falun Gong in 1996, and his wife followed suit in 1998. Falun Gong brought them healthy bodies and a harmonious life.

After the persecution began, they were harassed numerous times by the local police, and their Falun Gong books were confiscated. The local authorities attempted to force them to give up their belief.

The couple went to Beijing to appeal for Falun Gong in November of 2000, where they were arrested and held in Chaoyang Detention Center for seven days. Later they were escorted back to their hometown.

They were tortured by being doused with icy water in frigid weather, brutally force-fed, beaten, and brainwashed.

Torture demonstration: Airplane torture

Ms. Sang was tortured by being forced to stand in an “airplane” position. She was held for two weeks before being released.

In the dark of night on January 17, 2001, two police officers broken into the couple's home. They took the couple into custody without a warrant and held them in a brainwashing center. The couple were locked in a room and forced to watch videos slandering Falun Gong. Days later, Ms. Sang was released, but her husband was kept in a detention center.

Mr. Wang was sentenced to four years in prison in 2002. He was sent to Dashaoping Prison in Lanzhou City and was later transferred to Dingxi Prison. He was not allowed to exercise, talk, or move around.

Ms. Sang was held in a brainwashing center again in July of 2002. Her son had just started school, and he kept crying for his mother. When Ms. Sang was released in October of 2003, her son had to repeat the first grade. The persecution caused enormous trauma to her, as well as her loved ones.

After Mr. Wang was finally released in November of 2004, the local authorities continued to harass him and his family.