(Minghui.org) A 65-year-old woman in Dalian City died on December 30, 2017, barely days after she was released from prison on medical parole.

Ms. Yang Shuwen was arrested on October 15, 2014 and sentenced months later to 4.5 years in prison. Police targeted her because she refused to renounce Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline being persecuted by the Chinese communist regime.

Ms. Yang credited Falun Gong for giving her strength to face adversities in life. Her son was killed in a car crash more than a decade ago, and she herself was badly injured and lost her hearing following the accident. Her husband later divorced her. She almost lost hope in life, but Falun Gong saved her from despair.

Her simple pursuit of happiness, however, landed her in police custody after the brutal persecution of Falun Gong began. Ms. Yang was first arrested on June 29, 2011 and detained for 134 days.

Police ransacked her home following her latest arrest in 2014 and confiscated her Falun Gong books, computers, printer, cell phone, cash, and other personal valuables.

Ms. Yang was found to have high blood pressure and a heart condition during a required medical examination, but police still forced the Dalian Detention Center to admit her.

The Jinzhou District Court tried Ms. Yang on December 28, 2014 without informing her family. She was sentenced to 4.5 years and admitted to Liaoning Women’s Prison on June 9, 2015.

She developed colon cancer in prison and was released on medical parole in late December 2017. Ms. Yang Shuwen died two days before the New Year.