Caption: After their ordeal in China, Jarrod and Emma Hall are glad to be back home.
Picture: Wayne Taylor

March 13 2002

A young Melbourne couple, arrested by Chinese police over the weekend for publicly supporting the outlawed Falun Gong movement, said they were pushed, kicked, threatened and strip-searched during their imprisonment.

Having returned to Australia early yesterday morning after being expelled and deported, Jarrod and Emma Hall said they were "totally helpless" against the Chinese police who immediately "kidnapped" them for unveiling a Falun Gong banner in Tiananmen Square.

China outlawed Falun Gong in 1999, [...], detaining thousands of Chinese followers and putting many in labour camps.

Mr Hall said he was thrown to the floor several times during his 15-hour ordeal.

"I was kicked in the groin at one stage and pushed up against the wall with someone's hand on my throat," he said.

"If we didn't do what we were told, they would scream in our faces."

Mrs Hall said: "In my interview, they basically strip-searched me down to my underwear."

Both in their early 20s, Mr and Mrs Hall said they used wedding gift money to get to China to intentionally unveil the banner. Their arrest comes less than two weeks after 10 other Australians returned home after being expelled from the country for also displaying a Falun Gong banner in Tiananmen Square.

They said they would consider returning to China, but this would be difficult as their visas were cancelled.

Mr Hall said some of their money was also stolen.

[...]

Mr Hall said Falun Gong - which follows the principles of "Truth, Compassion, Forbearance" - has given his life new meaning. "I was one of those people searching for answers," he said. "I know it's good from the bottom of my heart. People are being put in prison indefinitely with no trial just for standing up for those principles."

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/03/12/1015909850805.html