(Minghui.org) As soon as Mr. Hou Dongliang, a Falun Gong practitioner in Cangzhou City, Hebei Province, returned to his hometown in nearby Mengcun Town on November 12, 2020, the local officials immediately started to harass him.

Chinese Communist Party (CCP) secretary of the village Xing Fubao, the village head, and an accountant went to Mr. Hou’s home. They told him, “The county Police Department and the Township Government just held a meeting about you. We told our boss that you have stopped practicing Falun Gong. If you write a statement to renounce Falun Gong, no one will bother you. You can still practice at home—as long as you don’t go out and talk to people about the persecution of Falun Gong.”

Mr. Hou told them sternly, “Please tell your boss that I have not given up on Falun Gong and I cannot lie because I follow Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. I will not write any such statement!”

Xing Fubao would not give up. He urged, “If you cooperate with us, that makes our job easier. But if you refuse to write the statements, the police might come and arrest you.”

Mr. Hou replied, “What law permits you to coerce a citizen to write a statement to give up his faith? I haven't done anything against the law and should not be persecuted for my faith!”

“We know you're all good people, but we don't have any choice since we’re carrying out orders from above.”

Because Mr. Hou refused to give in, Xing Fubao called the township government, and three more officials showed up. They once again tried to persuade Mr. Hou to write the statement: “No one says that Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance aren’t good. We're not asking you to renounce your faith, you just simply have to write a statement promising that you do not participate in political activities or distribute Falun Gong flyers. That's all we need from you. We live in a communist society and the Party gives us everything.”

Mr. Hou asked, “Did the CCP pay for the house I bought? Does the CCP ay my salary? I have not committed any crimes, and the statement you are asking me to write has no legal basis. I will definitely not write it! I know this is your job and it’s not easy for you, but I won’t cooperate with you on this!"

After the three officials left, the village leaders wanted Mr. Hou to write another statement confirming that the township officials had come to talk to him. Mr. Hou and his family refused to comply.

Perpetrators’ phone numbers:Xing Fubao (邢福宝), Party secretary of Sizhuangzi Village: +86-18503174979Xing Wanzhou (邢万州), Village head: +86-13832714279