(Minghui.org)

Name: Zhao YiguangChinese Name: 赵以广Gender: MaleAge: unknownCity: ShulanProvince: JilinOccupation: physicianDate of Death: around October 4, 2024Date of Most Recent Arrest: April 2023Most Recent Place of Detention: Nanshan Lockup

A well-respected physician in Shulan City, Jilin Province, died around October 4, 2024, after suffering years of persecution for his faith in Falun Gong, a mind-body practice that has been persecuted by the Chinese Communist Party since July 1999.

Dr. Zhao Yiguang ran his own clinic and was known locally as a top-notch doctor who charged low fees. He had many patients, yet the local police shut down his clinic in December 2003 for his faith in Falun Gong.

Besides the financial persecution, Dr. Zhao was also repeatedly arrested and given four forced labor camp terms. Not long after the persecution began in 1999, he went to Beijing to appeal for Falun Gong. He was arrested and given one year of forced labor.

Dr. Zhao was arrested again in 2002 for talking to people about Falun Gong. He was given an unknown term of forced labor and released several months later. After a third arrest on March 13, 2003, he was given a third forced labor term. He served time at the Yinmahe Labor Camp in Jiutai City.

More than ten agents from the Nancheng Police Station and the Shulan City Police Department broke into Dr. Zhao’s home after 7 p.m. on October 10, 2006 and arrested him and his wife, Ms. Liang Shujie, also a Falun Gong practitioner.

Ms. Liang had a sudden heart issue in custody and was rushed to the hospital. The police extorted 3,000 yuan from her before releasing her. Dr. Zhao was taken to the Nanshan Lockup and was later given one year of forced labor. He was found to have high blood pressure and a heart condition during the required physical exam, so the labor camp declined to admit him and he was released.

The endless persecution took a toll on Dr. Zhao’s health, which suddenly declined around 2019. Thanks to Ms. Liang’s tender care, he gradually got better. However, his health went downhill again after the police stationed people outside his home to monitor him beginning in March 2024. The arrest of Ms. Liang on June 5, 2024 was the final straw. Though she was soon released, Dr. Zhao never recovered from the trauma. He passed away around October 4, 2024.

The couple’s son, Mr. Zhao Jingyan, was also targeted for practicing Falun Gong. He was arrested in November 2003 and later sentenced to ten years in prison by the Shulan City Court.