(Minghui.org) Eight Dashiqiao City, Liaoning Province, residents were sentenced on August 11, 2026, for their faith in Falun Gong, a mind-body practice that has been persecuted by the Chinese Communist Party since July 1999. One of their family members who does not practice Falun Gong was also convicted for being associated with them.
The nine locals, including two married couples, were arrested on November 25, 2025, and indicted around March 2026. See the related reports for details. They stood trial at the Zhanqian District Court on July 16-17, 2026, and were wrongly convicted on August 11. Presiding judge Gao Yue and his assistant judge Xin Runhong signed the following verdicts.
Mr. Zhang Yuzhen (71): nine years with a 50,000-yuan fine.
Ms. Gong Suyan (72 and wife of Mr. Zhang): eight and a half years with a 50,000-yuan fine.
Ms. Wang Zhaomin: seven years with a 40,000-yuan fine.
Ms. Xing Dongmei: five years with a 20,000-yuan fine. She was previously twice given two-year forced labor terms, in 2001 and July 2007, respectively.
Mr. Wang Jun: two and a half years with a 10,000-yuan fine.
Ms. Li Xiuying: two years with a 10,000-yuan fine.
Mr. Yang Qiang: one and a half years with a 10,000-yuan fine. He previously served an unknown forced labor term.
Mr. Zhang Bo (who doesn’t practice Falun Gong and son of Mr. Zhang and Ms. Gong): one year and three months with a 10,000-yuan fine.
Ms. Xing Chun’e (wife of Mr. Yang): six months with a 5,000-yuan fine. She was previously given an unknown forced labor term in March 2001, and arrested again on September 16, 2009.
Mr. Zhang Yuzhen developed high blood pressure, heart conditions, and stroke symptoms during his detention. He was rushed to the Luhe Hospital on June 23, 2026. His family was not allowed to visit him there. He was shackled during his entire hospitalization and was monitored by four officers.
Mr. Zhang was discharged on June 30 and taken back to the Dashiqiao City Detention Center. His lawyer visited him and learned that he was unable to walk and had to crawl around. He was put in a wheelchair but couldn’t even sit steadily by himself. He needed three guards to hold him to prevent him from falling out of the wheelchair. Both of his eyes had become blind, and he was still suffering from severe heart disease and high blood pressure. His speech was blurred, and he was extremely thin.
Mr. Zhang was wheeled into the courtroom during his trial. His lawyer and family made repeated requests before and after the trial to have him released on bail, but judge Gao ignored them.
Dashiqiao City, Liaoning Province: Eight Falun Gong Practitioners and One Family Member Indicted