(Minghui.org) Ms. Lu Shuying, from the Hongqiao District, Tianjin was arrested again in December 2023 for practicing Falun Gong, a mind-body practice that has been persecuted by the Chinese Communist Party since July 1999.

The details of Ms. Lu’s arrest and detention remain to be investigated. This is not the first time she has been targeted for her faith. She was previously twice given forced labor and twice sentenced to prison.

Three Years of Forced Labor

It is unclear when Ms. Lu was first given a forced labor term, but she served three years in a labor camp. Her husband divorced her while she was in detention. He was awarded all their assets including their house, but he refused to take custody of their two young children, who were about 10 and 12 at the time.

The children’s relatives did not dare take them, fearing they would be implicated for their mother’s faith. The children slept in parks while their mother was detained.

Given 1.5 Years of Forced Labor in 2008

Ms. Lu rented an apartment and started a small business after she was released. In the first half of 2008, she was arrested again and given one and a half years of forced labor at the Banqiao Women’s Labor Camp.

Because she refused to renounce Falun Gong, the labor camp guards used various means to abuse her. She became confused and incoherent as a result, and couldn’t think straight. Other detained Falun Gong practitioners later managed to help her regain mental clarity.

Sentenced to 4 Years in 2010

Months after completing her second forced labor term, Ms. Lu was arrested again on February 16, 2010. Officers from the Beichen Police Department took her to a local detention center. She was later sentenced to four years and incarcerated in Division Five of the Tianjin Women’s Prison.

The prison guards forced Ms. Lu to sit on a small stool motionless for hours every day. They also did not allow her to sleep. To instigate other inmates’ hatred towards her, the guards did not allow them to sleep or purchase daily necessities when she was subjected to those abuses.

Ms. Lu was forced to do hard labor for more than 12 hours every day. If she failed to finish her quota, she was only given streamed buns and pickled vegetables to eat.

Sentenced to 4 Years Following Arrest in 2016

Ms. Lu and Ms. Li Lixin, were arrested on October 27, 2016 after they were reported for distributing Falun Gong informational materials. The Xianyangbei Road Police Station took them to the Hongqiao District Detention Center.

Ms. Lu’s lawyer visited her on November 7, 2016 and learned that she was ordered to go through a physical examination and have her blood drawn as soon as she was taken to the detention center. She said that because she refused to comply the guards retaliated by refusing to allow her to sleep or wash herself. She told the lawyer that she refused to do hard labor and was forced to do night shifts (standing guard without sleep).

The Hongqiao District Court tried Ms. Lu and Ms. Li on April 19, 2017 and convicted them on July 27 that year. Ms. Lu was given four years and fined 10,000 yuan. Ms. Li was given three and a half years and fined 8,000 yuan. They appealed to the Tianjin Intermediate Court but the verdict is not known.

It was also unclear where Ms. Lu and Ms. Li served time.

Related Reports:

Ms. Li Lixin and Ms. Lu Shuying from Tianjin Illegally Tried

Ms. Lu Shuying of Tianjin City Persecuted