(Minghui.org) Two residents of Fuxin City, Liaoning Province appeared in Taiping District Court on December 20, 2019, after being arrested for their faith in Falun Gong. 

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is an ancient spiritual and meditation discipline that has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999.

Ms. Wang Jinfeng and Ms. Bian Chunyan were first arrested on November 7, 2018, but they escaped hours later and went into hiding in the months that followed. The police tracked them down and arrested them again on August 9, 2019. They have been held at Xindi Detention Center since.

Their lawyers entered a not guilty plea for them during the December 2019 hearing and argued that no evidence listed by the prosecutor could demonstrate how their clients violated the law for upholding their faith.

The two practitioners also testified in their own defense and recounted the persecution they have suffered for practicing Falun Gong.

Ms. Wang, 55, was given three years of forced labor in 2002 and another two years in 2008. 

Ms. Bian, a former employee of Fuxin City Glass Factory, was given two years of forced labor in October 2000 and another a one year and nine months term in September 2011.

Both of them were held at Masanjia Forced Labor Camp and subjected to various forms of abuse, including beatings, being hung up, sleep deprivation and force- feedings.

Related reports:

Falun Dafa Practitioner Ms. Wang Jinfeng Recounts Persecution at the Masanjia Forced Labor Camp

Ms. Bian Chunyan from Fuxin City, Liaoning Province Sent to Masanjia Forced Labor Camp

Related report in Chinese:

两位善良女士遭辽宁阜新市建设派出所非法关押