(Clearwisdom.net)

The North Suburban Prison of Shijiazhuang City uses a torture method called "Wearing Dead Handcuffs," that was previously reserved for criminals who had been sentenced to death. It was banned, but is now being used to persecute Falun Gong practitioners. Here is an illustration made by a Falun Gong practitioner who has suffered such torture while in the prison.

Torture illustration: Wearing dead handcuffs

Caption: In the middle of the handcuffs is a nail, with one end flattened, and the other end having a hole. A wire is passed through the hole and twisted tightly.

The circumference of the handcuffs is about 18.5 centimeters and they are made from an oval-shaped metal rod. The metal is usually rusted, and the shape looks like an ox muzzle. Therefore, the cuffs are also called "ox muzzle dead handcuffs." They belong to the class of brutal torture methods and in the past were only allowed to be used for one day at a time on criminals who had been sentenced to death. It is said that the Public Security authority has banned these handcuffs, but the police still use them to handcuff Falun Gong practitioners behind the back, and leave them in place for more than a week. The hands, wrists, and the lower and upper arms of the person all become swollen due to this torture. Practitioners are cuffed around the clock, and are prohibited from eating, sleeping, and using the toilet. All the day to day activities were taken care of by the prison supervisor.

Wang Guobin, the Educational Branch chief of the North Suburban Prison in Shijiazhuang City, is in charge of persecuting Falun Gong practitioners in the prison. He ordered and participated in the persecution of more than 70 practitioners. They utilized many tortures to persecute the innocent practitioners, such as brutal beatings, forcing practitioners to wear the dead handcuffs, forcing them to wear foot shackles, to carry heavy items on their heads, hammering their fingers, depriving them of sleep, and much more.

The practitioners inside the prisons of Mainland China appeal to the international community to investigate what is happening inside Chinese prisons, and to stop this inhumane persecution.

Wang Guobin's address: No. 3 on North Ring west road, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province, Zip code: 050061.

Tel. 86-311-7751912 ext. 6260 (Office), 86-311-7751912 ext. 6290 (Home)

October 27, 2004