Yu Yongli (于永利) is a Falun Gong practitioner from Dongguang County, Cangzhou City, Hebei Province. He was seized at his home on June 19, 2024 in a coordinated cross-provincial detention sweep in neighboring Shandong, tried by the Ningjin County Court, and sentenced to three years’ imprisonment. After his appeal was rejected by the Dezhou Intermediate Court, he was transferred to Jinan Prison in Shandong on February 10, 2026. His sentence runs through June 18, 2027.
Detention
On June 19, 2024, domestic-security police from Ningjin County, Dezhou City, Shandong detained three practitioners from Dongguang County — Cheng Guijun, Zhang Wenping, and Song Guifen — at a market in Ningjin, and searched their homes. The same day, Dongguang County police detained Men Bingcheng and Yu Yongli at their homes, and police in Fucheng County, Hengshui City, detained Li Zhenying. All six were taken to the Dezhou City Detention Center. On July 29, 2024, the Ningjin County Procuratorate approved their formal arrest.
Trial and sentencing
The Ningjin County Court first tried the six on April 18, 2025. After the court restricted family attendance and the defense responded by dismissing counsel mid-session, the trial was adjourned; it resumed August 12–13, 2025. All six were convicted. Li Zhenying received four years; Cheng Guijun and Yu Yongli each received three years; Zhang Wenping received two years; Men Bingcheng received one year and six months; Song Guifen received one year. Fines of 3,000 to 10,000 yuan were imposed. The reporting organizations describe the charges against Yu Yongli as unclear and characterize the convictions as wrongful; the court judgments themselves are not publicly available.
Current status
Serving a three-year sentence, term through June 18, 2027. Transferred to Jinan Prison, Shandong, on February 10, 2026, after the Dezhou Intermediate Court rejected his appeal. Status verified as of March 2026 reporting.
Sources
- CHRD Prisoners of Conscience database — record for 于永利 / “Yu Yongli”: detention 2024-06-19, 3-year sentence, release 2027-06-18, Dezhou City Detention Center (record entered 2025-12-15; location predates the February 2026 prison transfer).
- World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (WOIPFG) — notice on the Ningjin County case against six practitioners (issued 2024-08-28, updated 2026-03-08): case notice (PDF).
- 维权网 (Weiquanwang) Issue-131 report — 于永利 listed in the 3-year sentence group.
Media profile & archive: Yu Yongli (于永利) — Media Profile & Archive