(Minghui.org) A 77-year-old man in Jilin City, Jilin Province has been detained for nearly a month since his arrest on May 4, 2023, for practicing Falun Gong. This was the second time that Mr. Zhao Xudong has been arrested in the past seven months for his faith.
A group of officers broke into Mr. Zhao’s home at around 7 p.m. on May 4 and arrested him, his son, Mr. Zhao Guoxing, 51, and daughter Ms. Zhao Guokun, 45. The family’s Falun Gong books, photo of Falun Gong’s founder, several flyers, a laptop, an iPad, an electronic reader, a cellphone, and a flash-drive were confiscated.
Mr. Zhao and his son were taken to the Hadawan Police Station and his daughter to the Xinghua Police Station. Both Mr. Zhao and his daughter were taken to the hospital for physical examinations around midnight. Despite Mr. Zhao’s high blood pressure, both he and his daughter were admitted to the Jilin City Detention Center on the next day. His son was released from the police station in the afternoon. After 13 days of detention, Ms. Zhao returned home, while Mr. Zhao remains in the detention center.
Prior to their latest arrests, Mr. Zhao Xudong and Ms. Zhao were both arrested on September 27, 2022. Mr. Zhao was released that evening and Ms. Zhao was released after 30 days at the Shulan City Detention Center.
Past Persecution of Family
Mr. Zhao started a factory of electronic control instruments in 1988 and soon grew it into a sizable company. Back then, his wife Ms. Li Yan had suffered from lumbar disc herniation for nearly two decades, which rendered her almost unable to take care of herself.
In 1996, upon hearing about Falun Gong’s health benefits, Ms. Li took up the practice and her condition disappeared in two weeks. She began to smile again and became a lighthearted person.
Her changes also prompted Mr. Zhao and their two children to practice Falun Gong as well. Mr. Zhao’s high blood pressure, persistent headaches, and neck and shoulder problems were all gone.
Their son, who contracted Hepatitis B at the age of eight and struggled with persistent fatigue, also recovered shortly after. The entire family was full of gratitude for Falun Gong.
Since the onset of the persecution in 1999, the family was repeatedly targeted for their faith. Mr. Zhao’s son was incarcerated for over thirteen years. His wife passed away on February 5, 2012, after succumbing to the fear and mental distress stemming from the persecution.
Mr. Zhao’s company was also seized by the government. When he reached his retirement age of 60 in 2006, the authorities couldn’t find the record of his previous service at a state-owned enterprise, which prevented him from receiving any retirement benefits. The once well-to-do family faced a dire financial situation as a result.
Related report:
Family Factory Seized, Mother Deceased, Father and Daughter Arrested, Son Displaced
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