Beloved Doctor in His Late 50s Dies After Years of Persecution for Practicing Falun Gong
(Minghui.org)
Name: Dong WenchengChinese Name: 董文成Gender: MaleAge: in his late 50sCity: HarbinProvince: HeilongjiangOccupation: physicianDate of Death: November 24, 2024Date of Most Recent Arrest: May 6, 2016Most Recent Place of Detention: Shuangcheng District Lockup
A beloved doctor in Harbin City, Heilongjiang Province died on November 24, 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. Dong Wencheng, in his late 50s, ran his own clinic and often charged low or no fee to patients who struggled financially. His generosity, exceptional medical skills, and sympathetic bedside manner won him respect and attracted patients from far and wide. Upon learning of his passing, many of his patients shed tears and wondered if they’d ever find such a good doctor again. They also couldn’t understand why the communist regime would persecute a law-abiding citizen simply for his faith.
Dr. Dong was first arrested on December 3, 2001 and taken to a brainwashing center. Before releasing him at an unknown date, the police forced him to pay 2,000 yuan and turn in the deeds of his three residences.
After a trip to Beijing to appeal for Falun Gong in 2002, Dr. Dong was arrested and held at about six different detention centers in Beijing. He was later escorted back to Harbin and held at the Shuangcheng District Detention Center. He went on a hunger strike in protest and was force-fed. He was released when he fell into critical condition. Not long after he returned home, he had to go into hiding to avoid frequent harassment from local village officials.
Dr. Dong went to Beijing again on April 16, 2002 to appeal for Falun Gong. He was arrested and injured his leg after taking a fall. He was later taken back to Heilongjiang and again held at the same Shuangcheng District Detention Center. His condition kept worsening and the guards released him.
After another arrest at an unknown date, Dr. Dong was given two years of forced labor at the Changlinzi Labor Camp. The guards there subjected him to various forms of abuse, including beatings, hanging him upside down (see image below), electric shocks, and pouring cold water all over him. At one point he suffered a concussion and developed a mental disorder after repeated beatings.
Torture illustration: hung upside down
Dr. Dong was arrested another time on May 6, 2016, while shopping at a supermarket. At least 49 other local practitioners in Shuangcheng District were arrested on the same day.
After he was released, Dr. Dong still faced constant surveillance and harassment for his faith. The mental pressure took a toll on his health and he died on November 24, 2024.