(Minghui.org) A 77-year-old mother succumbed to her injuries from savage beatings by her own son because of her practice of Falun Gong, a peaceful spiritual discipline that has been persecuted by the communist regime since 1999.
It was reported that the son, Du Xuesong, in his 50s, twice posted bail to get his mother released after she was arrested for refusing to renounce her belief. A military veteran, Du was trained to follow orders, and he grew increasingly hostile to his mother after she continued practicing Falun Gong following her release.
He was also worried that his mother's faith would affect his son's chance of becoming a government employee. During the past 19 years of persecution, many family members of Falun Gong practitioners have been fired from their jobs or barred from sitting for college entrance exams on the grounds of “guilt by association.”
On September 27, 2018, Du came home intoxicated. As soon as he entered the door, he began to beat his elderly mother, Ms. Lu Shurong. When his father, Du Zhongsan tried to stop him, the 83-year-old man was also beaten by the son.
The son continued to beat his mother for more than one hour. She suffered ten broken ribs and a broken wrist. She had bruises all over her body and her face was bruised and swollen.
After Ms. Lu was taken to the hospital, the doctor found multiple fractures in one rib, and the broken rib had pierced her lung. Most of her internal organs were also severely injured. The hospital issued several critical condition notices during her 24-day stay there. She passed away on October 21, 2018.
Ms. Lu's death was preceded by escalating tensions in the family over her faith. Heavily influenced by the government's hate propaganda, her son turned against his parents and often verbally abused and physically assaulted them.
Du Xuesong is currently held at Wuqing Detention Center in Tianjin.
