(Minghui.org) A happy family was shattered when the mother was arrested on May 12, 2018 for refusing to renounce Falun Gong, a mind-body practice that has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since July 1999.
Ms. Liu Yonglan, a resident of Chaoyang County, credits Falun Gong for giving her strength to overcome adversity in her life. Her first husband died of illness and their child also perished at a young age. The loss of her loved ones took a toll on her health.
Her illnesses disappeared after she began practicing Falun Gong in 2011. She also became more broad-minded and considerate by following Falun Gong's principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance in all areas of her life.
After Ms. Liu's arrest, her second husband, Mr. Zhou Shiqi, wrote a letter to the local court calling for her release. He said, “My wife treats my son [her stepson] as if he were her own. She also takes good care of my mother. Now that she's arrested, our six-year-old daughter cries for her return. I am heartbroken! She is a good wife, mother, and daughter-in-law and has never done anything to harm anyone or society. We are counting the days and longing for her return!”
Despite Mr. Zhou's plea, Ms. Liu is facing possible sentencing after three court hearings.
During her first hearing at the Chaoyang Court on September 4, Ms. Liu's attorney pointed out that the arresting officers forged the local village party secretary's signature on the inventory list of confiscated items without him ever being present during their search of Ms. Liu's home.
The prosecutor accused Ms. Liu of “undermining law enforcement,” a standard pretext to criminalize Falun Gong. He, however, failed to provide any evidence showing that Ms. Liu caused any damage to society at large or to anyone specifically because of her practice of Falun Gong.
A second hearing was scheduled for October 31. Prior to the hearing, an officer changed the confiscated single copy of a Falun Gong flyer to multiple copies of pamphlets in an attempt to escalate the charges against Ms. Liu. The police also showed up at her mother-in-law's home the day before the hearing, hoping to find more “evidence” against her.
After their attempt failed, two officers grabbed some of Ms. Liu's family members by the collar, expecting a struggle, so that they could charge the family members with assaulting police officers. But Ms. Liu's family did not do anything and the officers later left.
Two days before the third scheduled hearing on November 12, dozens of police officers including armed police officers, came to Ms. Liu's mother-in-law's home again. They confiscated Falun Gong books and a portrait of Falun Gong's founder, Mr. Li Hongzhi. The officers promised to release Ms. Liu as soon as her mother-in-law would say that the newly confiscated materials belonged to Ms. Liu.
Many neighbors saw the police vans that lined up in front of the family's home. One of them said that the frequent harassment by police officers had severely disrupted the family's life and wellbeing.
Key Personnel Responsible for the Persecution of Ms. Liu:
Jing Liwei, chief of Chaoyang County Prosecutorial Office, +86-18742188111, +86-13304216262Dong Qunji, officer responsible for Ms. Liu's case, +86-13942101310, +86-15642288525Wang Tiekui, +86-421-8999025 (O), +86-13190269881; +86-15642288561Li Guanghai, deputy manager of Prosecution Division, +86-421-2912454, +86-15004217688, +86-15642288508Wei Chao, deputy manager of Chaoyang County Domestic Security Division, +86-15714204987
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