(Minghui.org) Three more Chinese citizens were recently sentenced to prison for refusing to renounce Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline being persecuted by the Chinese communist regime.

Ms. Hou Jialing, a resident of Qi County, Henan Province, was arrested on April 27, 2016 and tried on July 27. The 68-year-old woman was notified of her 5-year prison term on October 21 and filed an appeal five days later.

Ms. Zhen Hongmei, a resident of Weifang City, Shandong Province, was arrested on May 14, 2016 and tried on September 20. She has filed an appeal after she was sentenced to three years in prison on October 28.

Ms. Wu Guimin, 61, was first tried on March 30, 2016 following her arrest on September 6, 2015. The higher court ordered a retrial on May 16, upon lawyers’ protest against the lower court judge’s violation of legal procedures. The Yi County, Hebei Province resident was sentenced to three years on November 4.

All three practitioners’ lawyers argued that no law in China criminalizes Falun Gong and they were simply exercising their constitutional right to freedom of belief and freedom of expression.

Related Reports:

Attorney Rebuts Charges at Ms. Wu Guimin's RetrialBiased Judge Recused from Trial of Falun Gong PractitionerAttorney Files Complaint Against Presiding JudgeHebei Woman Denied Fair Trial, Complaints Filed Against JudgeSo Practicing Falun Gong Is Not Illegal But Distributing Falun Gong Materials Is?Ms. Hou Jialing Tried in Henan Province

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