Additional Name(s): 许那

Gender: Female

Perpetrator: China

Ethnic Group: Han

Religion or Belief: Falun Gong

Reports of Torture: Yes

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Sentence: 8 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: July/19/2020

Date of Sentencing: January/14/2022

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: Cult

Xu Na

Extra Bio Info:

Xu Na is imprisoned for her religious activity.

On July 19, 2020, public security officials in Beijing municipality detained 13 Falun Gong practitioners, including Xu, living in Beijing for allegedly sharing photos of Beijing street scenes during the COVID-19 pandemic with a publication associated with Falun Gong. Authorities also reportedly seized Falun Gong related materials from the practitioners’ residences.

In December 2021, Xu's original lawyer was disbarred partly in relation to social media posts he made in support of the rights of Falun Gong practitioners.

On January 14, 2022, the Dongcheng People’s Court sentenced Xu to eight years in prison and fined her 20,000 yuan for "organizing or using a cult to undermine implementation of the law" (Art. 300 CCL). 

Xu has served prison previously for her religious belief and activity. Xu served five years in prison between 2001 and 2006 for providing accommodation to Falun Gong practitioners visiting Beijing.  During this imprisonment, she was tortured and mistreated. Xu was also sentenced to three years in prison in 2008 after being accused of possessing religious materials with intent to distribute.

Related Cases: Li Zongze, Li Lixin, Zheng Yanmei, Zheng Yujie, Deng Jingjing, Meng Qingxia, Li Jiaxuan, Jiao Mengjiao, Zhang Renfei, Liu Qiang

Sources:
  • "Xu Na" Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC)