(Minghui.org) A Xinjiang man was given 12 years on February 1, 2019, for practicing Falun Gong, a mind-body practice based on the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. This is the second time that he has been sentenced for his faith, which has been persecuted by the communist regime since 1999.
Mr. Zhang Shunxin's lawyer wasn't informed of the verdict. The court waited until the 15-day appeal window had expired to verbally inform his family of the sentencing on February 25.
The 53-year-old Kashgar City, Xinjiang resident has begun to serve time at Gaimilike Prison, Tumxuk City.
To date, Mr. Zhang's family hasn't received an official copy of the verdict. The name of the judge who sentenced their loved one wasn't available to them either.
Mr. Zhang was arrested on May 2, 2017, for mailing letters with information about Falun Gong. The police ransacked his home while his mother, in her 70s, was at home alone.
The police returned at 11 p.m. on May 4 and around noon on May 5, ransacking his home two more times. His computer, printer and many items related to Falun Gong were confiscated.
After Mr. Zhang's lawyer met with him at Zepu County Detention Center, the lawyer submitted a letter to the police, demanding his client's release.
The Puze County Procuratorate approved Mr. Zhang's arrest on June 7, 2017. The first arrest warrant his family received didn't have the name of the police station responsible for the arrest, nor the address of the detention center where he was kept.
An officer named Rao Liang issued a new warrant two months later. Although he filled out all the missing information from the first one, he got Mr. Zhang's name wrong this time.
Prior to the 12-year term, Mr. Zhang had served another nine years at Xinjiang No.5 Prison between 2002 and 2011. He was subjected to various tortures, including only one hour of sleep each day, as a way to force him to renounce his faith.
Related report:
Practitioners Are Brutally Persecuted at the No. 5 Prison in Xinjiang Province
