(Minghui.org) A Wuhan City, Hubei Province resident in her 70s was sentenced to three years and seven months for her faith in Falun Gong, a spiritual and meditation discipline that has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999.

Ms. Xia Yuexian was arrested for talking to people about Falun Gong on September 13, 2019. Her grandson, who was with her during the arrest, was also taken to the Tangjiadun Police Station. The police called Ms. Xia’s son and asked him to pick up his son, but kept Ms. Xia in custody at Dongxihu District No.1 Detention Center.

At the same time, the police also ransacked Ms. Xia’s home. When they left, her neighbors saw many cigarette butts on the floor.

The police initially promised to release Ms. Xia after the World Military Games were held in Wuhan between October 18 and 27, 2019, but instead of releasing her, they submitted her case to the procuratorate and continued to detain her.

After over one year of detention, Ms. Xia was tried by the Hanyang Court through an online conference on December 17, 2020. Her family watched the hearing in the courthouse.

The judge sentenced her to three years and seven months on December 31. She is scheduled to be released in April 2023.

Chinese version available

Category: Accounts of Persecution