(Minghui.org) It was recently learned that an elderly woman serving time for her faith was beaten to unconsciousness in prison on August 24, 2022. At one point, her electrocardiogram even showed a straight line (meaning no heartbeat).
Ms. Jia Naizhi, 73 and of Fushun City, Liaoning Province, was arrested on April 18, 2019, and later sentenced to five years for practicing Falun Gong, a mind-body practice that has been persecuted by the Chinese Communist Party since July 1999.
She was transferred from the Fushun City Detention Center to the Liaoning Women’s Prison in December 2020. Starting in March 2021, she often vomited after eating and was diagnosed with Hepatitis B. The guards moved her from the 9th ward to the 11th ward, which was designated for elderly and disabled inmates.
When Ms. Jia’s family called the prison to ask about her, a guard admitted that they didn’t provide any medical treatment for her. He also said it wasn’t possible for them to release Ms. Jia on medical parole.
Ms. Jia went on a hunger strike around August 2022 when the guards attempted to force her to renounce Falun Gong. At around 1 p.m. on August 24 that year, a deputy section chief named Shao Meihan ordered inmates Ding Xiuqing and Li Qiyun to beat Ms. Jia.
Li felt bad having to beat such an elderly woman and Shao then replaced her. Guard Shao yelled, “Let’s find some better hitters!” Inmates Meng Fang, You Tingli, Sun Shuzhi, and Li Na joined Ding to brutalize Ms. Jia in an attempt to make her renounce her faith.
They covered her head before punching and kicking her hard. They then poured water on her.
After the beating, section chief Shu Ping said to Ms. Jia, “Let’s have a talk now.” Only when Ms. Jia complained about feeling muddleheaded, did Shu realize that she needed medical attention.
Meng and another inmate then held Ms. Jia, under the watchful eyes of Shao, and walked towards the door of her cell. Ms. Jia collapsed and lost consciousness as soon as they reached the door. The two inmates then dragged her all the way to the prison hospital.
Doctor Yang, also the hospital president, asked, “Why didn’t you bring her here on a gurney?” He performed an electrocardiogram and saw a flat line. Ms. Jia’s heart activity didn’t return to normal until after quite a while. She finally came to after some additional time.
Doctor Yang asked why the left side of her face was bruised. Inmate Meng immediately answered, “She hit her face on a radiator.” Ms. Jia refuted, “No, I didn’t.”
None of the inmates who beat her received any punishment. Ms. Jia later wrote a complaint letter and asked the guards to pass to relevant agencies. She has never received any response.
Past Persecution, Including a Prior 10-Year Prison Sentence
Ms. Jia used to struggle with a terminal disease of peripheral neuropathy that caused severe muscular atrophy. A doctor once predicted that she only had three months left. Impressed with Falun Gong’s tremendous health benefits, Ms. Jia learned the practice on November 19, 1997 as a last resort. To her surprise, she not only survived, but thrived.
However, in the past 20 years, her pursuit of good health landed her in police custody numerous times after the communist regime ordered the persecution of Falun Gong in 1999. Ms. Jia was arrested on Tiananmen Square on July 22, 1999 when she went to Beijing to appeal for her faith. Since that first arrest, she has been arrested many more times.
Prior to her latest sentencing, Ms. Jia served two years in a forced labor camp and ten years in prison for speaking out for her faith. She was brutally tortured and was on the verge of death several times.
Ms. Jia’s personal property was confiscated as well. Her mother, who missed her every day during her imprisonment, passed away in deep sorrow. Her husband was forced to divorce her. Her child was also separated from her.
The details of her past persecution can be read here.
Related Reports:
71-year-old Woman Denied Medical Treatment After Being Diagnosed with Hepatitis B in Prison
71-year-old Woman Sentenced to Five Years after Twelve Years of Incarceration for Her Belief
After 12 Years of Incarceration, Woman, 70, Sentenced to Five More Years for Her Faith
After 12 Years Behind Bars for Her Faith, 70-year-old Woman Is Arrested Again
Local Court in Liaoning Province Court Declines to Hear Falun Gong Case
Once Incarcerated for 12 Years, Liaoning Woman Faces Trial for Practicing Falun Gong Again
Ms. Jia Naizhi and Other Dafa Practitioners Persecuted in Shenyang Prison in Liaoning Province
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