(Minghui.org) An 84-year-old man was sentenced to a one and a half year prison term for not renouncing his faith in Falun Gong. He has been denied family visits since being imprisoned in August 2018, and his family is now very worried about him.
Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a spiritual discipline being persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999.
Mr. Zheng Decai, a resident of Dalian City, Liaoning Province, lost his hearing after being beaten hard by the police when he went to Beijing to appeal for Falun Gong in 2000. He was arrested again in 2010 and secretly sentenced to 3.5 years in prison. He developed a heart problem and high blood pressure after being tortured in Dalian Prison for holding firm to his faith. The authorities cuffed his hands and feet to the bed while he was receiving medical treatment at the hospital.
Mr. Zheng was arrested again on September 4, 2017, after being reported for talking to people about Falun Gong. He was detained for 37 days and released on bail after he developed a medical condition.
The Zhuanghe City Court held a hearing for Mr. Zheng on April 12, 2018. His lawyer entered a not-guilty plea for him. The judge adjourned the hearing without issuing a verdict.
Mr. Zheng's family didn't learn of his prison sentence until June 11, 2018 when they went to the local detention center to pick up his belongings, as directed by the authorities.
Mr. Zheng was taken to Nanguangling Prison on June 12 to serve time, but he was denied admission after failing the physical exam. He was returned to the detention center, where he exhibited symptoms of high blood pressure and abnormal rapid heart rate two days later. He also coughed-up blood.
The authorities finally let his family visit him after their strong protest. He was in a wheelchair during the visit.
Mr. Zheng was accepted by Dalian Prison on August 6, 2018. When his family went to visit him on September 13, 2018, they were denied the meeting because Mr. Zheng had refused to give up practicing Falun Gong.
Mr. Zheng is scheduled to be released from prison on August 7, 2019.
