(Minghui.org) Nine residents of Wuhan City, Hubei Province were arrested at a private home in November 2023 for their faith in Falun Gong, a mind-body practice that has been persecuted by the Chinese Communist Party since July 1999. Two of them are still detained at the time of writing, with Ms. Xu Lixiu incarcerated since her arrest and Ms. Zhang Xiaohua (a 75-year-old retired librarian of Hubei University) released on bail the night of her arrest and taken back into custody in February 2024.
Nine Arrested
Ms. Xu and Ms. Zhang were arrested on November 25, 2023, while they and six other guests were studying Falun Gong teachings at the home of Ms. Hu Aihong, who is in her 50s. The local community office and property management office workers led more than twenty officers and pried open the door. The police were from multiple agencies, including the Wuchang District 610 Office, the Wuchang District Police Department, the Xujiapeng Police Station, the Yujiatou Police Station, the Yangyuan Police Station, and the Nanhu Police Station.
Without showing a search warrant, the police raided Ms. Hu’s home and confiscated her Falun Gong books, cell phone, cash, and a portrait of Falun Gong founder. She and her guests were taken to the police stations in charge of their respective residential areas to be interrogated.
Six Released Hours Later, Two Taken Back into Custody Later, with One Still Detained
Six of the guests, all seniors, were released the night of their arrests, including Ms. Zhang, Ms. Qian Shao, 76, Ms. Ma Qiuzhen, Ms. Shi Jinglan, Ms. Xiao (first name unknown), and Ms. Fu Shaozhen, around 80.
Ms. Zhang was arrested again before the Chinese New Year (February 10, 2024). The Xujiapeng Police Station raided her home and confiscated her valuables before taking her to the Wuhan City Brainwashing Center. She remains detained to this day.
Ms. Qian was taken back into custody after the Chinese New Year, by officers from the Yujiatou Police Station. They raided her home and took her to the Wuhan City Brainwashing Center. She was forced to watch videos slandering the founder of Falun Gong and to study CCP history. She was also forced to defame the founder of Falun Gong against her will, before she was released in March 2024.
Three Put in Brainwashing Center, One Still in Custody
Ms. Hu and the remaining two guests, including her younger sister Ms. Hu Aili and Ms. Xu, were taken to the Wuhan City Brainwashing Center (which displays two signs at the door, one reading “Legal Education Center” and the other “Care Center”) following their arrests.
The Hu sisters were forced to watch anti-Falun Gong videos and study the history of the CCP for long hours every day. They were released in February 2024.
Ms. Xu remains detained. She was previously sentenced to three years following a prior arrest on October 12, 2019. See the related report for details of her past persecution.
Related Report:Hubei Woman Sentenced to Three Years for Her Faith
Copyright © 2024 Minghui.org. All rights reserved.
