(Minghui.org) A 63-year-old retired teacher is appealing a 4.5-year prison term she received because she practices Falun Gong, a spiritual and meditation discipline that has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999.
Ms. Chu Zhanfeng, from Changling County, Jilin Province, moved to the neighboring province of Heilongjiang a few years ago to avoid being persecuted for her faith. She was arrested in Daqing City, Heilongjiang Province, on April 25, 2026, after she was reported for distributing Falun Gong informational materials. She was held at the Daqing City Second Detention Center.
The Gaoxin District Court in Daqing informed Ms. Chu’s family on August 20 that she was scheduled to stand trial on August 27. It’s unclear whether her family was allowed to attend the hearing. She was later sentenced to four and a half years. She has appealed with the Daqing City Intermediate Court.
Ms. Chu used to work at the Liushui Elementary School in Changling County. She suffered from many ailments, including heart disease, cervical spinal stenosis, bone spurs in her spine and legs, hypertension, and gynecological disorders. After she took up Falun Gong in late 2013, she soon recovered and was full of energy.
Prior to her latest prison sentence, she was given a 4.5-year term following an arrest on October 31, 2016. She faced constant harassment after she was released on April 30, 2021, and was forced to live away from home to avoid the police.
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