89-Year-Old Heilongjiang Man Remains Hospitalized After Violent Arrest for His Faith in Falun Gong

(Minghui.org) An 89-year-old man in Mishan City, Heilongjiang Province is still in the hospital after a violent arrest in late May 2025 that resulted in severe chest injuries.

Mr. Chen Hongrui was deceived into opening his door for deputy captain Zhang Jianpeng and the local community officer workers. Without saying anything, they dragged him to a police car.

Mr. Chen injured his left femur years ago and needs a walker to get around. Despite his lack of mobility and advanced age, Zhang dragged him so hard that he suffered severe chest and back pain. After his release, he checked into a hospital and was found to have fractures in his thoracic vertebra (middle section of the spine).

The violent arrest of Mr. Chen was triggered by a letter he wrote to prosecutor Li Lanlan at the Mishan City Procuratorate, urging her to stop persecuting Falun Gong practitioners.

Falun Gong is a mind-body practice that has been persecuted by the Chinese Communist Party since July 1999. Mr. Chen, his wife Ms. Chen Guizhi, and their son and daughter-in-law (Dr. Chen Guoqing and Ms. Han Yuqin) were repeatedly targeted over the years for practicing Falun Gong. Ms. Chen and Ms. Han both died as a result of the persecution. See the related report for the family’s ordeal.

Prosecutor Li reported Mr. Chen to the police. Zhang harassed him multiple times before making the arrest.

The Mishan City Court initially set a court date for May 27, 2025, but aborted the plan because Mr. Chen was still hospitalized. A new date was then set for June 4, but it is unclear whether the trial was held because of his continued hospitalization.

Related Report:After Nearly Fifteen Years of Persecution, Dr. Chen Guoqing Is Arrested Again