(Minghui.org) Mr. Zhang Chunqiu’s wife and son were dealt a heavy blow when he was arrested for practicing Falun Gong on December 6, 2019. Having served almost ten years behind bars, the Yiyang City, Hunan Province resident is now facing trial again for his faith in Falun Gong.
Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a mind-body practice that has been persecuted by the Chinese Communist Party since 1999.
The Louxing District Court accepted Mr. Zhang’s case on April 13, 2020 and is in the process of scheduling his hearing.
In the past 21 years of the persecution of Falun Gong, Mr. Zhang, around 56, has served eight years in prison and another 21 months of forced labor. He was once shocked with six electric batons on his sensitive and private parts. The prison guards also hung him up, while hanging a wood board of nearly 165 lbs around his neck for 13 hours, causing tremendous damage to his neck. In addition, the authorities also performed clinical trials of tuberculosis and hepatitis tests on him.
Torture re-enactment: placing heavy object around one’s neck
Mr. Zhang’s son was still in school when he served time. His wife struggled to raise their child and make ends meet all these years. After he was released, he did many odd jobs to support the family.
The persecution and the lack of a father’s presence left his son scarred. He became addicted to computer games and even borrowed money from loan sharks to play games.
Mr. Zhang and his wife tried everything they could to help their son. They started some small businesses, including deliveries and selling breakfast, in order to pay back the loans of tens of thousands of yuan that their son owed. He gradually quit the bad habit and helped his parents with their businesses.
Just as the family was starting to establish themselves and enjoying a normal life, Mr. Zhang was arrested again. Under tremendous mental distress, his wife experienced worsening conditions of chronic myeloid leukemia and on several occasions she had trouble getting out of bed due to severe dizziness.
Related reports:
Ten Falun Gong Practitioners Arrested in Huaihua City; Police Rob Them of More Than 60,000 Yuan
Mr. Zhang Chunqiu in Hunan Province Persecuted for Eight Years
