(Minghui.org) A renowned doctor in Xiamen City, Fujian Province, was sentenced to 5.5 years with a 50,000-yuan fine on November 23, 2023, for practicing Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline that has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999.
Dr. Li Jianxi, 54, was arrested at home at 8:30 a.m. on June 19, 2022, during a police sweep. His wife and son, as well as staff members of his clinic, were also taken away and briefly detained. His other residence in his hometown in Zhangping City, about 100 miles from Xiamen, was ransacked as well.
The police first put Dr. Li on a 14-day residential surveillance under COVID-19 quarantine and took him into custody at Xiamen City No.3 Detention Center on July 4, 2022.
The Jimei District Procuratorate approved Dr. Li’s arrest on August 10, 2022. To collect information against him, the police confiscated the medical records of his patients in the past eight years and called them about whether Dr. Li had given them Falun Gong materials.
The Jimei District Court scheduled a court date for November 24, 2023, but suddenly called Dr. Li’s family on the evening of November 22 to say that the virtual hearing was rescheduled for the next morning. The presiding judge, Tu Xuebin, simply announced at the hearing to sentence Dr. Li to 5.5 years with a 50,000-yuan fine. It was unclear whether there was a prior hearing for the prosecution and the defense to debate the case as required by law. or whether the November 23 hearing was the only hearing held in Dr. Li’s case.
A Renowned Doctor of Chinese Medicine
Since his childhood, Mr. Li has been interested in the universe and the mystery of life. He read books about various religions, philosophy and ancient magic, but he didn’t find the answers until he read Falun Dafa’s teachings and he resonated with the idea that the purpose of one’s life is to be a good person and return to one’s true, original self.
Despite being a doctor himself, Dr. Li suffered from stomachaches and joint pain since he was a child. He couldn’t eat raw or cold food, nor could he bear the discomfort of skipping or delaying a meal. After taking up Falun Gong, his symptoms disappeared and he easily quit his strong addiction to alcohol. Despite his intensive work schedule, he always felt energetic – something he had never experienced before.
In his over 30 years of practicing Chinese medicine, he has seen over 100,000 patients. He specialized in treating patients who were in critical condition. He once treated a 750-gram premature baby with a severe lung condition and helped the baby to breathe on its own a month later. He was often invited to give talks at various seminars or conferences.
Harassment in Recent Years
Shortly after the onset of the persecution of Falun Gong in 1999, Dr. Li appealed to the government, demanding a free environment to practice his faith. He was arrested and detained for 15 days. Since then, he was put on the police blacklist and faced constant harassment. But despite the harassment, he still managed to see patients and provide satisfactory care to them.
On March 18, 2020, five people from the Qiaoying Street Committee and Qiaoying Police Station harassed Dr. Li at his clinic. For the next four months, the Jimei District Political and Legal Affairs Committee ordered the local Health Bureau and Drug Administration to inspect his clinic three times. Each time, the officials were accompanied by armed officers. When no significant problems were found, the authorities attempted to force Dr. Li’s landlord to terminate the lease of his clinic, with the excuse that he engaged in “illegal activities.”
Lyu Huoqu, the new deputy director of the Jimei District Political and Legal Affairs Committee, personally harassed Dr. Li at his clinic on February 23, 2021. In a continued effort to collect information to frame Dr. Li, the authorities later arranged for officials to approach him under the pretext of medical consultation.
Related reports:
Renowned Doctor Faces Prosecution for His Faith, His Patients Harassed by Police
Fujian Province: Three Falun Gong Practitioners Arrested in Two Days
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