(Minghui.org) This was a broken family that had been healed by practicing Falun Gong. The 19-year-long persecution of the practice, however, has torn it apart piece by piece: One daughter lost her job; her husband, a veteran, was beaten and died from depression; and another daughter was detained numerous times and recently sent to prison for eight years.
That is why Ms. Liu Yuqin, who lives in Dalian City, is seeking justice. Ms. Liu and her daughter, Ms. Zhou Haiyan, were both arrested on October 8, 2017. Their only “crime” was practicing Falun Gong, a meditation system that improves mind and body.
Ms. Liu, 73, was taken to Yaojia Detention Center and released on October 16, 2017. She visited numerous government agencies requesting her daughter's release, only to see the younger woman sentenced to eight years and transferred to Liaoning Province Women's Prison in December 2018.
A Broken Family Blessed
Ms. Liu's husband was an attending physician in the air force, but there was very little he could do about his own health problems that included hepatitis, heart disease, and high blood pressure. With three children and a bedridden parent to look after, Ms. Liu, who was also in poor health, was often frustrated. The couple argued frequently and was on the brink of divorce.
To make things worse, their son, a straight-A student, was reprimanded by a teacher and was beaten by his mother after he scored poorly on a test. He became depressed, quit school, attempted suicide, and later developed bipolar disorder. Doctors could not help and it was a huge strain on the family.
The couple began to practice Falun Gong in May 1995, and their health and character improved. When they began to get along well, their three children also became practitioners. Their son, in particular, recovered from his mental issues, maintained a positive attitude, and became more open-minded.
Family Torment
Even after Falun Gong was banned in July 1999, the family wanted to share the benefit of the practice, but they were met with harsh persecution. The younger daughter, who worked at the Bureau of Certification and was the recipient of numerous performance-based awards, was fired.
Ms. Liu's husband was severely beaten by a young police officer and sustained a serious head wound. He was then forced to pay a fine of 1,000 yuan. After he returned home the next day, the police continued to harass and threaten him. Serving in the military for nearly 40 years, he had never been physically abused by anyone, let alone a young police officer who could have been his grandson. The frustration, depression, and lack of freedom to practice Falun Gong led to illness and eventually took his life.
Ms. Zhou, Ms. Liu's older daughter, was sent to forced labor camps twice for a total of over five years. Her arrest in October 2017 was part of a campaign launched by Dalian City police, in which 19 practitioners in total were detained. Over ten officers barged in and handcuffed Ms. Zhou. They dragged her into a police van, and one officer punched her in the head with both fists. Her head still hurt when her attorney met with her 15 days later.
Of those 19 practitioners, eight were issued arrest warrants later and hearings were held secretly between April and June in 2018. Besides Ms. Zhou, several other practitioners were also imprisoned. For example, Mr. Hao Fukui, 81, who was released on parole in October 2017, was sentenced to three years and sent to prison in early 2018.
Judicial Policy
In order to prevent attorneys from defending practitioners, Dalian Judicial Bureau and Dalian Intermediate Court issued a policy requiring attorneys to secure approval from the judicial bureau in charge of their law firm, as well as the judicial bureau in charge of the court where the case would be heard. Without such approvals, lawyers are not allowed to represent Falun Gong practitioners.
Some judicial bureaus, however, have said that they do not issue such approvals, which are not required by law for lawyers to take on a case.
Related Reports:
Eight Practitioners Sentenced to Prison in Dalian City
Liaoning Province: Two Shenyang Residents Arrested for Seeking Release of Unjustly-imprisoned Woman
