Three Family Members Arrested in Chongqing for Hanging Up Banners

 (Minghui.org) Mr. Zhou Shijie, 33, was tried by the Jiangbei District Court in Chongqing on January 15, 2014, on charges of hanging up banners with information about Falun Dafa. The judge asked him about the details of hanging up the banners and then adjourned the trial. The court illegally sentenced Mr. Zhou to a three-year and three-month prison term the next day.

Mr. Zhou, his wife Ms. Xie Qin, 32, and his mother Ms. Zhou Yourong, 68, were arrested by Li Xianyong, Liang Shibin, and a dozen police officers from the Chongqing Domestic Security Division on September 15, 2013.

The officers accused the practitioners of hanging up banners worded “The world needs Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance,” “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good,” and “Falun Dafa is good” along highways.

The officers ransacked Mr. Zhou's and his mother's homes. They confiscated Falun Dafa books, a computer hard drive, DVDs of Shen Yun Performing Arts, and four MP4 players from Ms. Zhou’s home. They confiscated a car, two tablet computers, a laptop, a desktop computer, an inkjet printer, a laser printer, and three cell phones from Mr. Zhou’s home.

Mr. Zhou was taken to the Fusheng Detention Center. Ms. Zhou and Ms. Xie were taken to the Qianzhugou Brainwashing Center in Geleshan. Ms. Zhou was released after 81 days.

Ms. Zhou’s daughter and younger brother were harassed by officers from the Jiangbei District Police Department.

Arrest, Detention and Harassment in Chongqing

According to incomplete statistics, there were 66 cases in Chongqing of practitioners being arrested, harassed, and detained during the period from September through October 2013.

Among these cases, 54 practitioners were arrested, their homes ransacked, and property confiscated. Practitioners were subjected to brainwashing in attempts to force them to renounce their belief.

In addition, five practitioners were sentenced to prison terms, six practitioners were harassed, and two were forced to become homeless to escape the persecution.

Parties involved in the persecution:

Wang Zhiyong (王志勇), director of the Jiangbei District Police Department: [phone]; email: cɡjbɡ[e-mail]
Lixian Yong (李先勇), captain of the Chongqing Domestic Security Division (i.e. 610 Office): [phone]
Liang Shibin (梁世滨), captain of the Jiangbei District Domestic Security Division: [phone]
Liang (梁所长), director of the Wulidianjiedao County in Jiangbei District: [phone]