Belated News: Jewelry Merchant Dies Three Years after Being Jailed for His Faith

(Minghui.org)

Name: Zhu YandongChinese Name: 朱艳东Gender: MaleAge: 51City: KunmingProvince: YunnanOccupation: Jewelry merchantDate of Death: August 25, 2019Date of Most Recent Arrest: September 9, 2013Most Recent Place of Detention: Yunnan Province No. 1 Prison

Two years after a jewelry merchant in Kunming City, Yunnan Province took up Falun Gong, he was arrested and sentenced to three years for exposing the Chinese communist regime’s persecution of this ancient mind-body practice. Mr. Zhu Yandong was tortured in custody and his health was damaged as a result. He never recovered due to ongoing harassment following his release on September 8, 2016. He passed away three years later, on August 25, 2019. He was 51 years old.

Mr. Zhu had a very successful business selling jadeite and enjoyed a luxurious lifestyle. Despite his wealth, he still felt empty inside and lacked true happiness.

In February 2011, a close friend of his took up Falun Gong and introduced the practice to him. Both of them were deeply moved by the profound principles taught by Falun Gong. Mr. Zhu found the answers to many of the questions he had about life that had puzzled him for over twenty years.

Since then, he began diligently practicing Falun Gong, reading the books and doing the meditative exercises. Within a year, he quit all his bad habits of drinking, smoking, and gambling. Meanwhile, his high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and many other problems also disappeared. He understood the real purpose of life and enjoyed inner peace.

Because of sharing his experience with people and exposing the persecution, Mr. Zhu was arrested on September 9, 2013 and held at the Xishan District Domestic Security Office. The police ransacked his home without showing a search warrant.

Mr. Zhu was later secretly sentenced to three years at the Yunnan Province No. 1 Prison. Only after he was taken to the prison did his family learn about his verdict.

Torture illustration: straitjacket

Because Mr. Zhu refused to renounce Falun Gong, the prison guards beat him and injected him with toxic drugs. His blood sugar increased quickly, which also caused his vision to decline. The guards also forced him to wear a straitjacket. 

By the time he was released on September 8, 2016, Mr. Zhu had been physically and mentally traumatized. The authorities continued to harass him following his release, which caused his health to deteriorate further. He eventually succumbed to the distress and passed away on August 25, 2019.

Related report:

Businessman from Kunming Arrested for Practicing Falun Dafa