Ms. Yin Sen was arrested at Customs in Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province when she flew in from Australia on February 4, 2019, on the eve of the Chinese New Year. The 65-year-old woman, with an Australian protection visa, was sentenced to one year in prison in July 2019 for her faith in Falun Gong.
Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a spiritual and meditation discipline that has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999.
Ms. Yin, a native of Dalian City, Liaoning Province, fled to Australia in March 2016 after experiencing multiple arrests and periodical harassment because of her faith. She was granted a protection visa that year.
As her husband and son are still in China and unable to leave the country, Ms. Yin decided to take the risk of returning home to spend the Chinese New Year with them, only to be arrested shortly after landing in Shenzhen.
After being detained for ten days at the Shenzhen Detention Center, she was transferred to the Dalian City Detention Center. The Procuratorate approved her arrest weeks later.
The Shahekou District Court sentenced her to one year in prison in July 2019. She was sent to Liaoning Women’s Prison in mid-September.
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Australian Resident on Protection Visa Arrested Upon Returning to China