(Clearwisdom.net) Mr. Zhang Shuhui, a practitioner from Beijing, left home more than a year ago to avoid persecution, and has not returned since. His mother-in-law was affected and died as a result.

Mr. Zhang Shuhui, 43, was formerly a police officer in the Shijingshand District Police Department, Beijing. He started practicing Falun Gong in December 1998 and has since experienced tremendous physical and mental changes.

After the persecution of Falun Gong began on July 20, 1999, Mr. Zhang went to the National Appeals Office to talk about Falun Gong. He was denied access and escorted out. His supervisors used high-pressure tactics in attempts to force him to give up his faith. To avoid causing trouble for his employer, Mr. Zhang resigned from his job. In October, during a major Chinese holiday, he was taken away by police officers from the Bajiao Police Station, Shikingshan District. He was jailed for thirty hours there. He was later arrested twice by the 610 Office and Bajiao Police Station, and taken to a brainwashing center. This caused great distress for his wife and young child.

Due to constant harassment by the local police station and the neighborhood committee, Mr. Zhang left his town to find temporary work elsewhere. Around the time of the Beijing Olympics in 2008, police and neighborhood authorities came to his home on numerous occasions to monitor his family, including their telephone conversations. His mother-in-law, already suffering from physical illness, was traumatized, which caused her condition to worsen. She died in June 2009.

In May 2008, staff from the 610 Office attempted to arrest Mr. Zhang at his place of employment, but were unsuccessful. Mr. Zhang was forced to leave again.