(Clearwisdom.net) Freedom of belief is a constitutional right of the Chinese people. Detaining Falun Gong practitioners in jails, brainwashing centers, and prisons controlled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is illegal. Depriving families of their visitation rights is a further violation of the law.

Deputy warden Ding Tao of Ward IV of Mudanjiang Prison, claiming that practitioner Li Haifeng did not “transform,” has deprived his family of their right to visit him since May 2011. His mother was turned away several times. She has not seen him for the past five months. In addition, he can neither send and receive mail, nor purchase daily necessities.

On November 28, 2008, the Xian District Court in Mudanjiang City tried four practitioners, including Zhao Boliang, Li Heifeng, Li Yongshen, and Zhang Yuhua. “Domestic security captain Peng Fuming asked me to say that the things I had with me were given to me by Li Heifeng,” Mr. Li Yongshen said in court. “He hung me up with a rope and told me that he would let me down only when I confessed. I succumbed after being hung for half an hour.”

During the time that Li Heifeng was detained, he was put “up on the rope” many times by the domestic security police. In court, Mr. Li said that the domestic security police put him “up on the rope” at its limits. The court asked, “What is the limit?” Mr. Li demonstrated how extreme it was. The court then asked, “How can you prove it?” Mr. Li said, “I have the scars to show you. Even after five months, the scars are still there.”

Torture illustration: Up on the rope

Around February 18, 2009, Mr Li was sent to Mudanjiang Prison.

On October 9, 2009, he was forced to “transform”. Squadron captain Wan Yong of the Fourteenth Ward simultaneously shocked him with two electric batons and did not stop until they ran out of charge. Mr. Li’s arms were charred with many blisters. Afterwards, they forced him to stand outdoors for one full day and night, and deprived him of food and sleep. But Mr. Li still did not succumb.

Torture re-enactment: Shocking with electric batons

Since playing hardball was not going anywhere, squadron captain Li Yan began using a different approach. He tried talking Mr. Li into signing the document, “Let's make a deal. You know if you don’t 'transform', I will be laid off.”

In order to monitor the practitioners at all times, they organize all the inmates in groups of five. One practitioner and four general criminal inmates were in each group. Practitioners were not allowed to talk with other practitioners. Even using the restroom was monitored. If a practitioner did something that the guards didn't approve of, everyone in the group would be punished. Inmates are coerced into beating and torturing the practitioners.

Mr. Li has been now sent to Ward IV of Mudanjiang Prison. But Ding Tao, the deputy warden, had deprived the family of their visitation rights, knowing full well that this violates the “Prison Law,” as well as Article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and Article 23 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Fan Zhenyu, prison warden: +86-453-6404715 ext: 8888
Wang Jian, deputy prison warden: +86-13904833666
Du Yingchun, assistant to the prison warden: +86-13836352345

Personnel at Ward IV:
Ding Tao, assistant warden: +86-13514585000
Meng Xianzhong, branch warden: +86-13946342917
Wang Wei, Warden: +86-13804805123
Zhang Zhiwei, deputy warden: +86-13804807031