(Minghui.org) The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is using the nationwide identity card (ID) system to target Falun Gong practitioners on its railways. Many practitioners have been illegally arrested, searched, and had their personal belongings confiscated.
Six Falun Gong practitioners from Chongqing were detained at the railway police substation when they showed their ID cards to buy tickets at the Caiyuanba Railway Station. Two of the cards triggered alerts to the police. Their Falun Gong books and informational materials were confiscated.
Ms. Li Huilan was arrested at Caiyuanba Railway Station when she showed her ID to buy a ticket on July 23, 2015. She was later detained at the Qianzhugou brainwashing center in the Shapingba District of Chongqing.
Ms. Jiang Yourong was also harassed and searched at the same railway station, on the same day, after her ID triggered an alert.
Similar incidents have occurred in many railway stations in different provinces, including the Hongqiao Railway Station in Shanghai, the Fengdu Railway Station in Chongqing, and the Xuchang City Railway Station in Henan Province.
Using personal identification cards to persecute Falun Gong practitioners is illegal according to the Identification Card Act, Article 14, of Chinese Law.
It appears that local police departments have added the names of Falun Gong practitioners to the network to prompt the alerts. Authorities are notified when these ID cards are scanned.
Linking the Chinese Railway network's ticketing system to the identification card system is also illegal. Discrimination and harassment of passengers based on their belief violates their human rights, which are protected by the Chinese Constitution.
The Railway ticketing network has no right to read a citizen's personal identity, according to the Identification Card Act, Article 19.
Railway police are arresting passengers, and searching and confiscating their personal belongings, without showing their badges, without lawful reason, and without a warrant. This is a crime of illegal search.