(Minghui.org) Less than a month after Mr. Li Zhendong was imprisoned to serve time for practicing Falun Gong, he developed severe ascites and was unable to eat.

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

Mr. Li, a Shenyang City, Liaoning Province resident in his 60s, was arrested on July 10, 2019, in a police sweep. He appeared in Heping District Court on December 4, 2020, and was later sentenced to an unknown term. 

In early October 2021, Mr. Li’s family was contacted by the guards at Dongling Prison to pay for his medical expenses. Only then did they learn about his imprisonment and medical condition. 

According to his family who had visited him at the hospital, his belly was severely swollen and he had to have a daily procedure to remove the excess fluid. Despite his condition, the prison guards still handcuffed him to the hospital bed and watched him around the clock. 

Mr. Li’s family applied for medical parole but was turned down. The prison also demanded they cover all medical fees for him. 

Perpetrators’ contact information:
Tian Zhi (田志), head of Dongling Prison: +86-24-62344407, +86-24-31629923Lin Zhimin (林志敏), head of Liaoning Province Justice Bureau: +86-24-86892116Yao Shiming (姚世明), head of Liaoning Province Prison Management Bureau: +86-24-31967058306