(Minghui.org) Authorities in Laishui County have questioned more than two hundred residents about their spiritual faith in Falun Gong since July 2018.
Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a meditation practice based on the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. It has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since July 1999.
The Laishui authorities' latest move against Falun Gong practitioners is a continuation of the nationwide “knocking on doors” campaign, which was launched last year ahead of the Chinese Communist Party's 19th National Congress in October 2017. Police and government officials in various regions of China went to the homes of Falun Gong practitioners in their jurisdiction and questioned whether they still practiced Falun Gong.
The same campaign played out in Laishui this year, with police and government officials going to practitioners' homes to attempt to gather their legally protected personal information.
While some practitioners were successful at defying police orders, many people were recorded, had their pictures taken, and forced to reveal their phone numbers, WeChat account information (a popular Chinese social media platform), or other sensitive information.
The campaign targeted practitioners in various towns of Laishui County.
More than 30 Falun Gong practitioners were harassed and had their pictures taken between July 10 and 13. A few villagers who had stopped practicing Falun Gong were also questioned by police.
More than 100 Falun Gong practitioners in Shiting have been harassed since July 10, 2018. Officer Liu Guilin was one of the policemen involved.
Mr. Xia Hongmin's son, who lives with his parents, received multiple phone calls from police from July 21 to 25. The caller threatened to go after him if they failed to locate his father. Police knocked on his door first on the morning of July 22 and later at 11:30 p.m. on July 25. Mr. Xia's wife was afraid to stay at her home.
Two uniformed officers and one woman showed up at Mr. Liu Xiehe's home on July 16. He was doing chores without a shirt on, but the woman still took a picture of the topless Mr. Liu without permission.
Ms. Liu Xiuhong's husband received a phone call from police on July 24 asking where he and his wife live so they could check on them.
Official Liu Yi led two officers to harass practitioners Ji Yun, Liu Yonghua and Yang Xiumei on July 17.
Official Dong Jinying led two officers to harass practitioner Ms. Zhang Fenghua on July 19.
Under the direction of local officials, villager Ji Qin went around to collect local practitioners' phone numbers on July 20. He ran into Ms. Song Shuhua on the street and asked for her son's phone number.
Official Hu Ke led two officers to harass Hu Yumin, Yang Minghui, Zhang Xiuqi, Chen Chenglan, and Hu Shaohua on July 14. The trio claimed to be conducting welfare checks and collected the practitioners' phone numbers and took their pictures without the latter's consent. The same officers went to Yang Xiuqin and Wang Xiuyun's homes on July 17. These two practitioners stopped them from taking their pictures.
Officer Bai Xue and a woman appeared at Xin Yanchao's home on July 13 and again one week later. They asked him whether his mother still practiced Falun Gong.
Ji Guihua, Yan Yulan, Wang Shuqin, and Zhang Jianhua were also harassed by police.
Offical Wang Xilu led two officers to harass Wang Hongjun on July 13. They took his picture without his consent. The trio then went to harass Zhang Huiyun.
An official led two officers to harass Yang Lanying on July 13. They asked how much money she and her husband made each year.
Police harassed practitioners on July 11. The officers had camcorders at the ready to film practitioners.
Deputy police chief Wang Jinxing led three officers to harass 11 local practitioners on July 10. Wang's cell phone number is +86-15532298563.
Related Report:Chinese Police Launch “Knocking on Doors” Campaign to Harass Falun Gong Practitioners