(Minghui.org) Falun Gong practitioners in 45 countries submitted another list of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials who persecuted Falun Gong and practitioners to individual governments before Human Rights Day, December 10, 2024. Because these officials participated in the persecution, practitioners requested that they, along with their family members, be barred from entry and that their assets be frozen.
These 45 countries include The Five Eyes (United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand), all 27 countries in the European Union (EU) and 13 countries on other continents. The EU countries are, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Belgium, Ireland, Austria, Denmark, Romania, Czechia, Finland, Portugal, Greece, Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Luxembourg, Croatia, Lithuania, Slovenia, Latvia, Estonia, Cyprus, and Malta. The remaining 13 countries are located in Asia, Europe, and the Americas: Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Israel, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, the Dominican Republic, and Paraguay. This was the first time Paraguay has joined the list.
The CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong has continued for 25 years and the regime recently escalated its efforts overseas. According to a report published by the World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (WOIPFG), the CCP highlighted a goal during a May 2024 meeting organized by the Ministry of Public Security, “Pay special attention to the cooperation between Falun Gong and Western politicians to sanction high-level Chinese leaders. Stop such behavior at all costs.”
Among the perpetrators listed was Zhang Qingwe, member of the 20th Central Committee of the CCP and vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress.
Perpetrator Information
Full Name of Perpetrator: Zhang (last name) Qingwei (first name)Chinese Name: 张庆伟Gender: MaleEthnic Group: HanDate/Year of Birth: November 1961Place of Birth: Leting County, Hebei Province
Title or Position
November 2001 – August 2007: General Manager and Secretary of the CCP Standing Committee at China Aerospace Science and Technology CorporationAugust 2011 – March 2017: Deputy Secretary of the CCP Standing Committee, and governor of HebeiMarch 2017 – October 2021: Secretary of the Heilongjiang Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the People’s Congress in HeilongjiangOctober 2021 – March 2023: Secretary of the Hunan Provincial Party Committee, and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the People’s Congress in HunanMarch 2023 – Present: member of the 20th Central Committee of the CCP, Vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress
Zhang Qingwei has long served as a local Party and government official, when he actively carries out the CCP’s directives to persecute Falun Gong. The following is a list of some of his crimes against practitioners.
Persecution During Zhang’s Tenure at the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (November 2001 – August 2007)
During his tenure as General Manager and Secretary of the CCP Standing Committee at the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, Zhang actively supported and cooperated with CCP authorities in the persecution of Falun Gong. Many practitioners working for the corporation were arrested, given forced labor camp terms and taken to brainwashing centers.
In the first half 2006, more than ten Falun Gong practitioners who worked for the First Research Institute of Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (also known as China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology) were arrested. They were either sent to forced labor camps or brainwashing centers.
Among them, Ms. Sun Lili, from the 18th Department at the Academy, was detained at a forced labor camp.
The leadership team of the 19th Department cooperated with the Fengtai District 610 Office to arrest two Falun Gong practitioners, one of whom was blind. Both practitioners were sent to a brainwashing center.
Mr. Wan Qiang, 43, from the 102nd Department and a graduate of Tsinghua University, was first taken to a brainwashing center and then given a two-year forced labor camp term.
Mr. Guo Bingyi and his wife, both from the 703rd Department, were persecuted in a brainwashing center. Ms. Jia, Mr. Guo’s wife, was later sent to a forced labor camp for two years.
Ms. Wu Junying, in her 70s, worked in the General Design Department, also known as the First Department at the Academy. She was arrested and persecuted in a brainwashing center in the Fengtai District.
Between March and May of 2006, several retired practitioners from the academy, including Ms. Lyu Yufen, Ms. Liu Shuzhi, Mr. Xu Zhiyi, and Ms. Wang Shuyan, were arrested and taken to brainwashing centers.
In August 2006, another mass arrest took place in the General Design Department, hospitals, and Plant #211 of the academy. Among them, Dr. Zhou and several practitioners from the First Engine Department were taken to the Fengtai District Brainwashing Center.
The First Institute of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation also donated large sums of money to the 610 Office and brainwashing center in Fengtai District to harass and monitor practitioners. On August 2, 2006, the First Institute held a mobilization meeting for the entire organization, and claimed it would completely eradicate Falun Gong before the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
On April 24, 2007, Mr. Liu Yonghui, a driver who worked in the 508th Department of the Space Technology Research Institute in China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, was arrested. He was previously arrested several times and persecuted in brainwashing centers.
Persecution During Zhang’s Tenure as Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Governor of Hebei Province (August 2011 – March 2017)
During Zhang’s tenure in Hebei Province, he not only made speeches at provincial political and legal work conferences, calling for an in-depth “anti-cult” campaign against Falun Gong, but also intensified the suppression of Falun Gong through violent means. This included arrests, home ransacking, fines, detainment, forced labor terms, sentencing, and forced brainwashing. As a result, the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in Hebei Province ranked among the worst in the country.
On February 25, 2012, prior to the CCP’s “Two Sessions,” 108 practitioners were arrested in the cities of Tangshan, Baoding, Shijiazhuang, Cangzhou, Botou, Handan, Jinzhou, and Xuanhua County in Hebei Province; as well as Huludao City in Liaoning Province, Liaocheng City and Gaotang County in Shandong Province, and Tianjin.
In Tangshan City alone, 38 practitioners were arrested. Among them, ten practitioners were sentenced to heavy prison terms: Mr. Bian Lichao was sentenced to 12 years, Mr. Zheng Xiangxing was sentenced to 10 years, Ms. Li Yushu was sentenced to 10 years, Mr. Ma Hengchao was sentenced to eight years, Ms. Xu Jie was sentenced to seven years, Ms. Gu Youwen was sentenced to seven years, Mr. Li Wendong was sentenced to six years, Mr. Zhang Guochen was sentenced to five years, Mr. Yang Zheng was sentenced to five years, and Mr. Yang Guoguang was sentenced to four years.
Twenty-five practitioners from the Cangzhou area and 11 from Shijiazhuang were arrested. Eleven of them were given forced labor camp terms.
From October 28 to 30, 2012, prior to the CCP’s 18th National Congress, Hengshui City and Shenzhou City in Hebei Province mobilized hundreds of police officers to arrest more than 40 Falun Gong practitioners and raid their homes.
In early October 2013, the Hebei Provincial 610 Office issued a “Notice on Further Promoting the Anti-Cult Legal Knowledge Contest” to all companies, requesting active participation. This activity lasted one month with the purpose of slandering Falun Gong.
On November 15, 2013, the Shijiazhuang City Domestic Security Division and 610 Office acted in unison to raid the homes of local Falun Gong practitioners. More than 20 practitioners were arrested. After that, a “task force” was established to raid the homes and arrest practitioners in Shijiazhuang City and its surrounding areas, including Zhengding, Gaoyi, Xingtang, Zhao County, and Pingshan. By December 2013, more than 40 practitioners had been arrested.
In mid-December 2013, Hebei Cable Television broadcast a program as part of the defamation campaign against Falun Gong.
From January to August 2014, a total of 360 practitioners were arrested or harassed in many counties and cities in Hebei Province, including 42 practitioners who were arrested in Cangzhou on August 17 and 152 practitioners were arrested in groups of three or more. At least ten practitioners were later sentenced to prison and five died from the persecution.
In 2015, at least 1,685 practitioners in Hebei Province were harassed, arrested, and detained. This included 901 cases of harassment, 462 arrests, and 322 cases of arbitrary detention.
In 2016 at least 1,226 practitioners in Hebei Province were harassed, arrested, and detained. Among them, 187 practitioners’ homes were searched, and at least 120 practitioners were subjected to prosecution.
From January to June 2017, at least 306 practitioners in Hebei were harassed, 281 were arrested and detained, 43 were sentenced, and four died as a result of the persecution.
Persecution During Zhang’s Tenure as Secretary of the Heilongjiang Provincial Party Committee and Director of the Standing Committee of the Provincial People’s Congress (March 2017 – October 2021)
During his tenure as secretary of the Heilongjiang Provincial Party Committee and chairman of the Standing Committee of the Provincial People’s Congress, Zhang made a number of speeches at provincial 610 Office conferences, provincial religious work conferences, and provincial political and legal work conferences.
In these speeches, he called for resolute measures to suppress Falun Gong in the name of the “anti-cult” laws. Under these directives, the Heilongjiang Provincial Political Affairs and Legal Committee, Public Security Bureau, 610 Office, judiciary branches, local police stations, and neighborhood committees worked together to arrest, harass, detain, and sentence practitioners.
In 2017, at least 676 practitioners were arrested in Heilongjiang Province, ranking fourth in the country. In addition, 917 practitioners were harassed and 62 were sentenced, ranking fifth in the country. Twelve practitioners in Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang, were sentenced to 1.5 to 8 years on December 14 and were fined a total of 380,000 yuan.
From August 31 to October 13, 2017, 29 practitioners were arrested in Yilan County and Huachuan County. Among them, a family member, Mr. Xue Hongliang, and 13 practitioners including Ms. Song Yuzhi, Ms. Shi Fengxiang, Ms. Shi Fenglan, and Ms. Wang Yunjie, were sentenced to three to ten years in prison. All 14 individuals were fined a total of 475,000 yuan.
In 2018, 475 practitioners were arrested, 169 were harassed, and 62 were sentenced in Heilongjiang Province. These three metrics all ranked fourth compared to other provinces in the country. Additionally, eight practitioners died as a result of the persecution.
On November 9, 2018, the Heilongjiang Provincial 610 Office and the Provincial Public Security Bureau initiated a mass arrest of 148 practitioners in Harbin, Bin County, Yanshou County and Daqing City. At least 50 of them were later sentenced to prison.
In 2019, 384 practitioners in Heilongjiang Province were arrested, 243 were harassed, 118 were sentenced, and 11 died from persecution. In July 2019, a supervisory team from the Heilongjiang Provincial Public Security Bureau traveled to Jiamusi City and directed the Jiamusi City Police Department and its subordinate police stations to arrest more than 40 practitioners and harass hundreds in the area. Mr. Yang Shengjun, who was arrested on August 2, died in custody nine days later.
In 2020, Heilongjiang Province had the second highest numbers of arrested and harassed practitioners in the country, with 719 and 1,094, respectively. Another 27 practitioners were sentenced to prison, and eight passed away due to the persecution.
At the end of June 2020, Ms. Wang Shukun, 66, was beaten by police officers after being tricked into going to her workplace. She suffered a brain hemorrhage and passed away on July 2. Mr. Wang Fengchen, a teacher at a middle school in Lindian County of Daqing City, was sentenced to four years in prison. He was admitted to Hulan Prison, where he developed cancer and vomited blood. His family applied for medical parole, but the prison refused to release him. He passed away on August 9, 2020.
In 2021, the number of practitioners arrested and harassed in Heilongjiang Province was 463 and 872, ranking fourth in the country. Additionally, 125 practitioners were sentenced and 24 practitioners died as a result of the persecution.
In Harbin alone, 329 practitioners were targeted, with at least 74 arrested, 33 had their homes raided, 40 were detained, and two passed away. Ms. Su Yunxia, of Daowai District, Harbin, was arrested on September 7, 2016 and sentenced to five years by the Daowai District Court on March 31, 2017. She developed severe infectious tuberculosis and other serious medical complications in Heilongjiang Province Women’s Prison. She passed away two days before the end of her prison term. She was 67.
Persecution During Zhang’s Tenure as Secretary of the Hunan Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Provincial People’s Congress (October 2021 – March 2023)
After taking office as the secretary of the Hunan Provincial Party Committee and chairman of the Standing Committee of the Provincial People’s Congress, Zhang continued to suppress Falun Gong. He delivered a speech at the Hunan Provincial Religious Work Conference on January 7, 2022, emphasizing the need to resolutely combat any form of “evil cult” activities. On December 20, 2022, Zhang again emphasized the need for in-depth defense against “religious infiltration” and promotion of “anti-cult” activities during a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Hunan Provincial Party Committee.
Although Zhang only served in Hunan Province for one year and five months, the persecution against Falun Gong practitioners in Hunan severely intensified during this period.
At least two practitioners in Hunan Province were persecuted to death in 2021, with another 29 sentenced, 181 arrested, 309 harassed, and 17 sent to brainwashing centers.
In 2022 and 2023, at least 48 practitioners in Hunan Province were sentenced, 194 were arrested, 293 were harassed, four were sent to brainwashing centers, and 21 were persecuted to death. Among these 506 victims, at least 106 had their homes raided and 16 had their blood samples forcibly drawn.
Select Persecution Cases in Hunan Province
On June 12, 2021, six practitioners in Hengyang City, including Ms. Chen Hengxiu, Mr. Peng Junnan, Ms. Li Fengying, Ms. Xie Haiyun, Ms. Jiang Xiuju, and Ms. Zou Hongyan were arrested by officers from Hengyang Railway Public Security Office. They were indicted by the Shigu District Procuratorate on September 30 and stood trial at Shigu District Court on December 22, 2021. The judge sentenced them to prison on May 29, 2022: Ms. Chen was sentenced to seven years, Mr. Peng to four years, Ms. Li to three years and three months, Ms. Xie to three years, Ms. Jiang to three years, and Ms. Zou to two years.
On October 27 and 28, 2020, the Changsha Municipal Domestic Security Division deployed a large number of police officers in a coordinated operation to arrest more than 20 practitioners. Mr. Li Zhigang, a former doctoral student at the National University of Defense Technology, was sentenced to five years and three months in prison on December 21, 2021.
On April 19, 2022, Ms. Zeng Xiaoying, of Huaihua City, Hunan Province, was arrested and taken to the Tuanjie Police Station. She was interrogated and beaten by the police. Six bones on the right side of her body, bones in her chest, and one of her ribs were fractured.
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