(Minghui.org) A woman in her 70s has become emaciated while serving a two-year term for her faith in Falun Gong.
Ms. Zhang Xiuqun, of Dongying City, Shandong Province, was arrested on April 24, 2024 when she bought groceries at a farmers’ market. A plainclothes officer spotted her talking to other shoppers about Falun Gong and tricked her into giving him a Falun Gong flyer. He and another plainclothes officer then arrested her. They pushed her down and stepped on her. They snatched her purse and ordering her to give them her cellphone. Four other plainclothes officers joined them and took Ms. Zhang to the Junmachang Police Station. She was later transferred to the Dongying City Detention Center.
The police later submitted Ms. Zhang’s case to the Dongying District Procuratorate, which indicted her and transferred her case to the Dongying District Court. The police also intimidated local residents to collect information about her.
Minghui.org previously reported that Ms. Zhang was sentenced to one year. But it's now been confirmed that she was sentenced to two years and was admitted to the Shandong Province Women’s Prison some time ago.
She used to be slightly overweight and had a round face, but due to the abuse the prison, she lost a significant amount of weight and is now emaciated.
Since the onset of the persecution in 1999, Ms. Zhang, a retired employee of the Shengli Oilfield, has been subjected to constant harassment and was forced to attend brainwashing sessions. She was arrested on November 6, 2010 for talking to people about Falun Gong. The police searched her and took photos of her. She was harassed again a few days before her latest arrest.
Violently Arrested for Practicing Falun Gong, Woman in Her 70s Sentenced to One Year
70-Year-Old Woman Violently Arrested for Practicing Falun Gong