(Minghui.org) A Tianjin resident was indicted in late July 2020 and now faces being tried for her faith in Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline that has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999.
Ms. Wang Lihua, 62, was arrested at home on February 13, 2020. The police confiscated her Falun Gong books, photo of Falun Gong’s founder, and her computer. She was interrogated until 11:00 p.m. that night. The police then released her and ordered her to report to the police station four days later.
Ms. Wang returned to the police station on February 17 and demanded the return of her Falun Gong books and other confiscated items. One officer gave her a bail release notice and told her she had to pay a 1,000 yuan bail bond. Ms. Wang refused to comply.
The police ordered Ms. Wang to pick up her bail notice two weeks later. They also demanded that she report to them if she planned to leave town. Ms. Wang again didn’t comply.
The police arrested Ms. Wang on April 21 and interrogated her again. The officers returned two more times, on July 2 and July 10, and took her to the Beichen Procuratorate to be questioned by the prosecutor.
The prosecutor said to Ms. Wang during her second trip there, that they could reduce her term if she admitted guilt for practicing Falun Gong. She didn’t comply but urged the prosecutor and the police to stop participating in the persecution, which has no legal basis to begin with.
The police informed Ms. Wang in late July that she had been charged with “undermining law enforcement with a cult organization,” a standard pretext used by the authorities to imprison Falun Gong practitioners.
Gaining Strength from Her Faith
Ms. Wang took up Falun Gong in May 1998. She credits the practice for curing her childbirth complications, including headache, dizziness, and anemia.
After the communist regime ordered the persecution in 1999, both she and her husband, who worked for the same employer, were pressured by the authorities because of her faith. The pressure took a toll on her husband’s health and he suffered a heart attack on his way to work and passed away.
Only two years after her husband’s death, her son committed suicide after he was deceived by a business partner and stuck with major debt.
Ms. Wang's world almost collapsed after the losses of her loved ones. It was Falun Gong’s teachings that pulled her through the darkest time of her life.
The Falun Gong teachings also helped Ms. Wang better handle the conflicts between her extended family.
A few years ago, her parents’ house was demolished by the government as it pushed forward urbanization projects. After her brother and his wife refused to accept them, Ms. Wang took in her parents and took good care of them. She didn’t hold grudges against her brother or sister-in-law and still maintained a good relationship with them.
Her husband’s brother had some conflicts with him and they didn’t contact each other for years. When her brother-in-law later contracted liver cirrhosis, she helped his wife to take care of him. Her brother-in-law was moved by her and apologized for his past wrongdoing.
