(Minghui.org) It was recently confirmed by Minghui.org that Ms. Yang Shunmei, a 65-year-old Beijing resident was sentenced in 2023 for raising awareness about the persecution of Falun Gong.

Ms. Yang was arrested at her home on July 14, 2022 and held at the Haidian District Detention Center. She was sentenced to two years by the Haidian District Intermediate Court and transferred to the Daxing Women’s Prison in Beijing some time in 2023. Her family has been barred from visiting her because she refused to renounce Falun Gong. They were only allowed to deposit a small amount of money into her commissary account.

Ms. Yang Shunmei

Past Persecution: One Labor Camp and Three Prison Terms Totaling 12.5 Years

Ms. Yang began practicing Falun Gong in 1998. Many of her ailments, including uterine fibroids and low back pain, disappeared shortly after. Because she remained firm in her faith after the Chinese Communist Party ordered the persecution in 1999, she has been incarcerated four times for a total of 12.5 years before her latest sentencing.

1.5-year Forced Labor Term Given in 2001

Ms. Yang was arrested in 2001 and given 1.5 years in the Beijing Women’s Forced Labor Camp. She was subjected to brainwashing, sleep deprivation and restricted restroom use. The guards and inmates often verbally abused her and forced her to sit on a small stool for long hours without moving. She was also forced to work without pay, including packaging chopsticks and making paper boxes, bags, sweaters and gunny sacks.

Sentenced to 3 Years in 2003

Ms. Yang was arrested again in 2003 while distributing informational materials about Falun Gong. She was held in the Fengtai District Lockup and the Chaoyang District Lockup for nearly a year, before being sentenced to three years. At the Beijing Women’s Prison, she was again subjected to brainwashing, sleep deprivation, verbal abuse and physical torture, and was forced to work without pay.

Given 4-year Prison Sentence in 2009

Ms. Yang’s next arrest was around 7 p.m. on March 11, 2009. More than ten officers broke into her home and seized her. She was taken to the Qinghe Town Detention Center and later sentenced to four years in the Beijing Women’s Prison.

Given Another 4-year Prison Sentence in 2015

Just two years after Ms. Yang was released, she was arrested on March 27, 2015, after she was reported for talking to people about Falun Gong. The four arresting officers from the Sijiqing Police Station took her home, raided it, and then detained her at the Wenyu Road Detention Center. The Haidian District Court held a hearing of her case on December 16, 2015 and later sentenced her to another four years in Beijing Women’s Prison.

Related Report:

Officials Refuse to Provide Whereabouts of Beijing Practitioner Ms. Yang Shunmei