(Minghui.org) Mr. Mo Zhikui, 57, was sentenced to 12 years in prison in September 2013 for his belief in Falun Gong. Through a one-time visit on January 8, 2014, the family discovered that Mr. Mo had contracted tuberculosis and was coughing up blood. However, Hulan Prison authorities have denied his family's request to release him on medical parole.
Besides this one visit, all other attempts by the family to visit Mr. Mo have been denied by Hulan Prison authorities. They claim it is because Mr. Mo refuses to wear the inmate uniform.
Mr. Mo, a resident of Yilan County, Heilongjiang Province, started practicing Falun Gong in 1997 and gained improved health as a result of the exercises and following the moral principles in his day-to-day life. He used to suffer from pulmonary edema and coughed up blood all day long. These symptoms were completely gone within four months of practicing Falun Gong.
Before his incarceration, Mr. Mo took care of his 89-year-old mother, a son with a congenital disability, and a granddaughter who suffered from a skin disease.
Family Denied Visitation
In late February 2014, Mr. Mo's wife and daughter attempted to visit him again. The prison authorities not only denied the request, but also tried to get them to pressure him to renounce his belief.
A month later, his family went back to Hulan Prison to try to visit him, but were only bounced around between different departments and offices.
Mr. Mo told his family over the phone that his condition had worsened and the prison hospital conducted three X-ray examinations. Mr. Mo also mentioned that his legs were numb and he often falls when walking.
His family then requested to see the results of the three X-rays, but the prison hospital director told them, “Our hospital has very limited equipment, so we only have the diagnosis of tuberculosis, but don't know the degree. He needs further diagnosis at an outside hospital.”
The prison authorities told Mr. Mo's family that he could be diagnosed at an outside hospital on the condition that they must pay for all the expenses, and that Mr. Mo must agree to wear the prison uniform, handcuffs and shackles during his medical treatment. He would also not be allowed to speak during the process. When Mr. Mo refused these conditions, the prison authorities did not allow him to be taken out for further treatment.
Below is a letter of appeal Mr. Mo's mother sent to the authorities:
Let My Son Come Home
I am Mo Zhikui's mother and I am 89 years old. It's been over a year since my son was taken away. I am extremely worried about his safety.
I keep asking the question: My son did not do anything illegal, so why did the police arrest him just for practicing Falun Gong and trying to be a good person? He's been sentenced to 12 years and suffering ill treatment at Hulan Prison.
Ever since my son was arrested, our family of four generations, otherwise happy and lively, have not enjoyed a single day of comfort and peace. The police ransacked our home and kept asking, “Who owns the house? Whose name is on the property deed?” The local neighborhood committee personnel kept calling to threaten my daughter-in-law. They also went to the kindergarten to question my great granddaughter about where she lived. Whenever I hear knocking on the door, my heart palpitates and I tremble with fear.
My son has been arrested a total of eight times and has suffered so much abuse. You beat him savagely and cursed him. Now he is found to have tuberculosis and is coughing up blood and experiencing numbness in both legs all the way up to his groin. This is a direct result of the ill treatment in prison.
My daughter-in-law, grandson, granddaughter and son-in-law have been denied visitation five times after traveling to the prison to see him.
One of my grandsons has a congenital disability my great-granddaughter suffers from a skin disease. Their treatment is costly. Without my son to support us, my family struggles to get by. I am longing every day for my son's return.
Previous report: Mo Zhikui Illegally Sentenced to Prison, Wife Intimidated to Remain Quiet
