Gender: Male
Current Location: Jinzhou City Prison
Perpetrator: China
Religion or Belief: Falun Gong
Reports of Torture: Yes
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Sentence: 7 Years, 6 Months' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: July//2019
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Possession of Religious Materials Religious Activity
Nature of Charges: Unknown
Zhao Jiyuan
Extra Bio Info:
Zhao Jiyuan is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.
In July 2019, authorities arrested Zhao reportedly in relation to his Falun Gong activities. Police searched his home, confiscating Falun Gong-related materials and electronics. Zhao was reportedly beaten while detained.
In later 2019/early 2020, Zhao was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison.
Zhao is reportedly being held in Jinzhou City Prison.
Zhao reportedly spent seven years in prison between 2001 and 2008 for his Falun Gong-related activities. He was reportedly tortured during this period.
Publicly Available Information:
Additional Name(s): 梁欣
Gender: Female
Perpetrator: China
Ethnic Group: Han
Religion or Belief: Falun Gong
Health Concerns: High blood pressure, heart disease, hernia
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: Yes
Appeal: Rejected
Sentence: 4 Years, 6 Months' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: December/5/2015
Date of Sentencing: December/12/2016
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Distributing Religious Materials Possession of Religious Materials Religious Activity
Nature of Charges: Cult
Liang Xin
Extra Bio Info:
Liang Xin was imprisoned for distributing religious materials.
On December 5, 2015, plainclothes police officers detained Liang and her husband, Yao Guofu, from their home in Nanyang municipality, Henan province.
On January 12, 2016, Liang and Yao were charged with "organizing or using a cult to undermine implementation of the law" (Art. 300). Police reportedly confiscated several Falun Gong-related materials and electronics. The two were accused of using a virtual private network service to access and disseminate Falun Gong materials to the public.
On December 12, 2016, Liang and Yao were both sentenced to four years and six months in prison and each fined 10,000 yuan.
In March 2017, the Nanyang City Intermediate People’s Court reportedly rejected Liang and Yao's appeal.
While in prison, Liang suffered from high blood pressure, heart disease, and a hernia.
In 2020 or 2021, Liang was released.
Liang and Yao are part of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission's Defending Freedoms Project.
Liang and Yao have a daughter.
Related Cases: Yao Guofu
Publicly Available Information:
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"Liang Xin and Yao Guofu" Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission
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"Liang Xin" Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC)
Additional Name(s): 姚国付
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: China
Ethnic Group: Han
Religion or Belief: Falun Gong
Reports of Torture: Yes
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Rejected
Sentence: 4 Years, 6 Months' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: December/5/2015
Date of Sentencing: December/12/2016
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Distributing Religious Materials Possession of Religious Materials Religious Activity
Nature of Charges: Cult
Yao Guofu
Extra Bio Info:
Yao Guofu was imprisoned for distributing religious materials.
On December 5, 2015, plainclothes police officers detained Yao and his wife, Liang Xin, from their home in Nanyang municipality, Henan province.
On January 12, 2016, Yao and Liang were charged with "organizing or using a cult to undermine implementation of the law" (Art. 300 CCL). Police reportedly confiscated several Falun Gong-related materials and electronics. The two were accused of using a virtual private network service to access and disseminate Falun Gong materials to the public.
On December 12, 2016, Yao and Liang were both sentenced to four years and six months in prison and each fined 10,000 yuan.
In March 2017, the Nanyang City Intermediate People’s Court reportedly rejected Yao and Liang's appeal.
Yao was reportedly beaten by detention center and prison authorities.
In 2020 or 2021, Yao was released.
Yao and Liang are part of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission's Defending Freedoms Project.
Yao and Liang have a daughter.
Related Cases: Liang Xin
Publicly Available Information:
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"Liang Xin and Yao Guofu" Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission
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"Yao Guofu" Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC)