(Minghui.org) Ms. Zhang Zhilan's 88-year-old mother-in-law went to Damoujia Police Station in Gaomi City on June 28, 2016, and offered to take her daughter-in-law's place in custody. She said her daughter-in-law had not broken any laws and that the family could not survive without her.
The police promised they would take her to see her daughter-in-law at the Weifang Detention Center. Instead, they dropped her off at a bus station. The elderly woman had no choice but to return home.
Ms. Zhang Zhilan, 56, was arrested by Damoujia Police Station officers on June 9, 2016, while she was talking to people about the persecution of Falun Gong at a market.
When her friend, Ms. Wang Dongmei, went to visit her at the police station, she was also arrested. They were both taken to the Weifang Detention Center on June 10, 2016.
Ms. Zhang's husband suffered from depression. She spent all their money on his treatment, but nothing helped. They had three young children, and the mother-in-law also lived with them. The mental stress and financial burden all fell on Ms. Zhang's shoulders.
Ms. Zhang started to practice Falun Gong in 1997. The profound principles of the practice helped her to overcome the mental stress. Her husband also benefited, and he improved.
The Chinese communist regime began the persecution of Falun Gong in July 1999. Since then, Ms. Zhang has been arrested and fined several times for telling others the truth about Falun Gong.
Under the direction of the local 610 Office, police escalated the persecution of Falun Gong in the months before the 2008 Olympics in China. They ransacked Ms. Zhang's home and arrested her in May. She refused to cooperate and was beaten severely by officers from Pingdu Police Department. Her family had 5,000 yuan extorted from them to secure her release.
She was arrested again in November 2008 and sentenced to three years in prison.