(Clearwisdom.net) I became very anxious when I heard the recent news that Falun Dafa practitioner Mr. Zhao Yan was arrested in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, and will have to stand trial. I hope that Dafa practitioners in China and abroad will make phone calls and send righteous thoughts to save him from this ordeal.

In 1998, Mr. Zhao was admitted to Harbin University of Industries and was a classmate of mine. He started cultivating Falun Dafa not long before the persecution began in July of 1999. We exercised together every morning at the group practice site on campus. Some practitioners were reluctant to get up that early to practice, so he would give them a wake-up call. Other young practitioners had difficulties passing the test of lust, so we shared experiences with them and helped them upgrade within the Fa. I was truly impressed by his diligence and enthusiasm for cultivation in Dafa.

While Falun Dafa and Teacher were being slandered in the media, Mr. Zhao remained firm in his beliefs. The detention center police stationed at the university continually harassed us. They confined us on Sun Island in the Songhua River to "brainwash" all of us against Falun Gong. The police not only confiscated Mr. Zhao's Dafa books, but also persecuted him while he was imprisoned in the detention center simply because he practiced publicly with other practitioners. In 2000, Mr. Zhao traveled to Beijing to validate that "Falun Dafa is good" in Tiananmen Square. His pants were torn when he was subsequently chased and beaten by the police officers stationed in the Square. He was later transferred back to Harbin and detained in Nangang Detention Center for one month.

I can scarcely remember how many tribulations he has had to endure, but I know he has been diligent in cultivation. His dedication and diligence increased my respect for him, while also making me feel ashamed of my own behavior. After being released from the detention center, many practitioners became despondent. In contrast, he readjusted very quickly to being a normal practitioner and resumed doing the three things that Teacher requires. Whenever he saw fellow practitioners lacking in diligence, he initiated experience sharing with them, helping them to adjust their cultivation status. He was kept under surveillance for several days after his release by a single plainclothes agent. To escape this constant surveillance, Mr. Zhao had no choice but to jump out of short building, not a high-rise. Fortunately, he was not injured by this feat.

His respect and firm belief in Teacher and Falun Dafa makes me ashamed of myself by comparison. In my opinion, among the many staff and students of the Harbin University of Industries who cultivated, he was the most diligent. He always behaved thoughtfully, wisely, and clearheadedly. Some practitioners, myself included, became lazy for a few days to "relax," while he always did the three things as a daily priority and never lost motivation. After graduation from the University, I lost contact with him. The only other information I have about him is that he was admitted to graduate school, and that he subsequently married and lived in Ningbo.

He was arrested in his home in Ningbo and will be sentenced. There is urgent need for practitioners to save sentient beings. If he is illegally sentenced, how many sentient beings would lose their opportunities to be saved? We cannot accept this evil persecution of practitioners.

I hereby appeal to the fellow practitioners in China and also practitioners abroad, to follow this closely and send righteous thoughts for Zhao Yan. Please call the 610 Office, the Procuratorate, and the Court of Ningbo City to clarify the truth and rescue Mr. Zhao Yan, thus negating this evil persecution.

Ningbo Detention Center: 86-574-87119289