(Minghui.org) A Falun Gong practitioner serving time for her faith has been repeatedly denied family visitation since February 2023.
Ms. Jin Hong, a 56-year-old Shenyang City, Liaoning Province, resident, was arrested on December 4, 2019, for distributing calendars containing information about Falun Gong. She was sentenced to four years by Tiexi District Court in September 2020 and transferred to Liaoning Province Second Women’s Prison on March 18, 2021. She endured heinous torture in prison for not renouncing her faith.
The torture resulted in injury to her leg and her family saw her limping when they were last allowed to visit her in January 2023. Since then they’ve made repeated requests to visit her again, only to be denied. She is due to be released on December 3, 2023.
Ms. Jin Hong
Brutally Tortured in Prison
A person familiar with Ms. Jin’s case made an urgent appeal through Minghui.org on July 7, 2021, that she had been tortured for over ten days. Her family was urged to rescue her. Her family went to the prison thirteen days later and demanded to see her. The guards rejected their request with the excuse that Ms. Jin refused to renounce her faith.
In August 2021, Minghui.org received information from another insider, who detailed the torture that Ms. Jin was suffering, including savage beatings and sexual assault.
According to the insider, Ms. Jin was incarcerated in the Fifth Team of the First Ward in Liaoning Province Second Women’s Prison. She was forced to attend brainwashing sessions starting on April 21, 2021. Beginning May 4 that year, the guards also ordered her to do the night patrol, from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. With barely any sleep, she was made to attend the brainwashing sessions the next day. The cycle went on for days.
Torture illustration: Beatings
Guards Li Xiaoyi, Sun Weijing, and Wang Jing, instructed inmate Cheng Xianfeng to beat Ms. Jin for three consecutive days between May 7 and 10, 2021 in an attempt to force her to renounce Falun Gong. She didn’t give in.
Ms. Jin was held in the Seventh Team between June 26 and 29, 2021 for escalated persecution. Several inmates stripped her naked, put a lot of bugs on her body, and hung her up by her wrists to the railing of the upper bunk. Her feet were taped to the step ladder of the lower bunk. Then they put a plastic bag over her head and hit her head with bottles full of water. Ms. Jin almost suffocated and passed out. Afterward, the inmates pinched her nipples, taped her pubic hair before yanking the tape, and kicked her in the abdomen. One of the inmates even poked Ms. Jin’s private parts with her foot which had athlete’s foot.
Despite the torture, Ms. Jin was still made to do the forced labor the next day. To cover up her injuries, guard Sun Weijing ordered her to wear long-sleeved clothes and put on a mask. They also arranged for her to walk with elderly and disabled inmates, so others wouldn’t notice that she limped. After work, she was hung up in the cell again with four limbs stretched out. The inmates also hit her in her abdomen.
The following night, the inmates handcuffed Ms. Jin behind her back and lifted her arms. They also pressed her face into a water basin and then pulled her up. The waterboarding torture lasted more than 20 minutes until she was on the verge of death.
Two inmates were assigned to monitor Ms. Jin around the clock. Whenever she tried to explain that Falun Gong was being persecuted, they covered her mouth, sometimes with a comforter.
Guard Li Xiaoyi once said to her, “You have no place to seek justice. No one cares about Falun Gong matters. As long as you agree to stop practicing Falun Gong, we will allow you to see your husband.”
Husband Shocked to See Wife Almost Unrecognizable
Ms. Jin’s family went to prison several times between July and August 2021 after learning of her torture of her. With their strong request, they were finally allowed to talk to her on the phone for one minute on August 31, 2021.
When Ms. Jin’s husband was allowed to see her for the first time in prison on September 22, 2021, he was shocked that she was almost beyond recognition. She looked haggard and emaciated. Her voice was very weak. And she walked slowly with a limp.
After the visit, Ms. Jin’s family demanded the prison take measures to protect her safety, but to no avail.
Visitation Rights Denied
Due to the pandemic in 2022, the prison imposed limits on visitations and at one point even completely stopped in-person visitation. Ms. Jin’s husband was only allowed to talk to her on the phone once in 2022.
Before the Chinese New Year in January 2023, the prison opened up for in-person visits. When Ms. Jin’s family asked to visit her, the prison guards approved their request, on the condition that they persuade her to renounce Falun Gong. During the 10-minute visit, the family was devastated to see that more than 1.5 years after their last visit, Ms. Jin still limped while walking.
When the family returned to the prison on February 21 for the monthly visit, prison officer Ji Xueqi rejected them.
Below was Ji’s conversation with Ms. Jin’s husband.
Ji: “You already know the prison rules. She is on the strict control team and visits are not allowed. Moreover, you are visiting her too frequently. You had just visited her (last month). Furthermore, you didn’t cooperate to transform her last time.”
Ms. Jin’s husband: “It’s her faith. I can’t control it. Why is her leg limping?”
Ji: “She’s already like this before coming to the Tenth Division. This is due to her natural aging. There are so many people in the prison. Maybe one has a headache today and another feels tight in her chest tomorrow. You can’t blame us for everyone’s discomfort.”
Ms. Jin’s husband: “An insider said the inmates tortured my wife in order to transform her.”
Ji: “Absolutely impossible, impossible. There was absolutely no torture. We won’t tolerate it if such a thing were to happen. We graduated from college and are highly educated. Rest assured. We have surveillance cameras everywhere in the prison, with no blind spots. There are so many rumors on the Internet nowadays. Someone said this today and another said that the next day. How can you believe everything? We wouldn’t even be able to do our work then. No visits for those on the strict control team. She has to change.”
Ms. Jin’s husband: “We are going to file a motion against your decision.”
Ji: “You can file a complaint. Our prison supports it.”
Then two officers told Ms. Jin’s husband again that he absolutely could not visit her that day.
Ms. Jin’s husband said: “We came from far away. Why can’t we see her?”
Ji replied: “Because she pleaded not guilty and did not transform. She is on the strict control team. According to the prison rules, she can’t have any visits.”
Ms. Jin’s husband reminded Ji: “Your prison manages prisoners. Those who refused to transform or plead guilty are protected by the law.”
Ji responded: “We have our own prison rules. She has a lot of freedom here. It’s the same as outside. No one controls her. She doesn’t even have to do labor work.”
Before leaving, Ms. Jin’s husband urged Ji and other guards to treat her kindly.
On March 28, Ms. Jin’s husband and son went to the prison again to request for a visit but were still denied.
A prison guard said, “Visitation is your right but we have our own prison rules. We have to evaluate how well she repents. You may apply for visits during New Year’s Day and holidays. But you can’t visit on regular visitation days.”
The family requested to see the documents for the alleged rules. After a while, Captain Li from the Tenth Division brought a document over and said to the family, “This document was issued in April 2022 by our provincial bureau. It states that if a prisoner is on the strict control team, she would not be granted visitations or any correspondence.”
Ms. Jin’s husband had the following conversation with Li.
Ms. Jin’s husband: “Does that mean I can’t see [my wife] for more than half a year?”
Li: “I’ve already told you clearly. If there is any important holiday, the warden would make an arrangement for a visit. I’ve already let you see her during the Chinese New Year (in January 2023).”
Ms. Jin’s husband: “Why is she on the strict control team?”
Li: “Because of her performance and not pleading guilty. She did not cooperate with us on anything.”
Ms. Jin’s husband: “I don’t recognize the document (issued by your provincial bureau). There is the prison law, and according to Article 48 of the Prison Law, we can visit.”
Li: “Prison law is a general law. When it comes to the administration in each prison, everyone has their own rules. Can we implement a unified thing across the country? The prison law only provides a general direction.”
Ms. Jin’s husband: “This is not written in the Prison Law.”
Li: “I’m talking about strict control. See, for those on the observation tier, visits are allowed every month. If the person is in lenient control, they can have two visits a month. But no visits for strict control level.”
Ms. Jin’s husband: “The prison law states there is a right to appeal.”
Li: “Yes, you have the right to appeal.”
Ms. Jin’s husband: “But I bet you guys would consider appealing the same as pleading not guilty?”
Li: “We didn’t put her on strict control only because she didn’t plead guilty. Her performance wasn’t good either. Must we explain all rules to the family?”
Ms. Jin’s husband: “My wife’s leg has been like this for two years.”
Li: “She did not apply for medical care and did not want to be treated. How could we force her to? Our process for treatment goes like this: if she feels unwell, she writes an application and we will bring her to the prison hospital or outside the hospital for treatment. She never said that she felt unwell.”
Ms. Jin’s husband: “There’s more than half a year left on her term. Can you guarantee she is released healthy and sound?”
Li: “How can I promise you? She’s in prison. I can only say that nothing will happen to her as we are watching her. As for her health, how can I guarantee anything?”
Ms. Jin’s husband: “We came from far away. You didn’t let us visit the previous time, and you didn’t again this time.”
Li: “I’ve shown you the rules. You definitely cannot visit according to the rules. You can’t visit even if you bring a lawyer today.”
Ms. Jin’s husband: “The Prison Law states that we can.”
Li: “We do things according to our documentation. I’m just a low-level officer. I have to follow the document.”
Ms. Jin’s husband filed an appeal right there, requesting for an evaluation of her injury. He demanded to hold those who injured and abused Ms. Jin responsible and accountable, to have the prison compensate her, and to hold relevant prison personnel accountable for abusing their power to deprive citizens of their freedom of religious belief.
Li accepted the appeal and said, “I’ll definitely submit it but it’s up to the prison management whether to approve it. I don’t have a lot of power. I’ve just started to manage her and I’m not clear about her previous situation. If she were to see a doctor, it would be us who take her to the doctor, not you. However, you must make sure that she applies to see a doctor herself. We have to follow her own will.”
Ms. Jin’s husband: “I can’t talk to her, so how do I tell her to submit an application?”
Li: “Didn’t I say that you can visit her on holidays?”
Ms. Jin’s husband: “Can I call her?”
Li: “You can during the holidays.”
Ms. Jin’s husband: “I’m worried about my wife’s safety.”
Li: “I’ve just taken over this team. I don’t know what happened to her earlier. I promise you that I will submit your appeal to the higher-ups.”
Prison Service Center Colludes with Prison
Ms. Jin’s husband went to the prison service center inside the prison and submitted a complaint against the prison for denying his visitation right. The officer on duty explained to him, “When the prison reopens after the pandemic, everyone is placed on strict control. You already know about the strict control rule. It’s set by the provincial bureau.”
Ms. Jin’s husband requested to take a look at the rule, but the officer said that he couldn’t show the document and could only read it for him. The two had the following conversation.
Ms. Jin’s husband: “My wife will be released by the end of the year. We are afraid she will still be tortured in the next few months.”
Officer: “There are surveillance cameras everywhere (in the prison). We enforce the law for the people.”
Ms. Jin’s husband: “Her leg is still limping. She wasn’t even taken to see a doctor. I don’t believe you. I have a simple wish that she returns home safely later this year.”
Officer: “No one can guarantee that. The captain already told you just now. What’s there to guarantee? She will definitely return home safely.”
Ms. Jin’s husband: “Wasn’t she completely healthy when she arrived here? But she’s limping now. You even said it was she who didn’t want to see a doctor. How will I believe this?”
Another family member who accompanied Ms. Jin’s husband asked the officer for the contact number of the prosecutor overseeing the prison. The officer refused to provide it and wanted to verify the family member’s identity.
He asked, “Are you her relative? I’ll only speak to her relatives.”
The relative replied, “Is there such a rule? Where is it written? Your department is open to the public. Everyone can submit a complaint.”
The officer also warned Ms. Jin’s husband to think twice before he did anything in an attempt to pressure him into giving up seeking justice for Ms. Jin.
Application for Government Information Disclosure
Ms. Jin’s husband was aware that Article 7 of the “Prison Law” stipulates that the rights of the inmates shall be protected, and Article 14 stipulates that prison guards are not allowed to commit illegal acts that violate the inmates’ legal rights. According to the “Prison Law,” although Ms. Jin is imprisoned, she should not be insulted for not pleading guilty or have other rights deprived or restricted. Article 48 of the “Prison Law” states that an inmate has the right to meet with relatives and guardians while serving time.
Based on the “Opinions of the Ministry of Justice on Further Deepening Prison Affairs Openness 2015” (Ministry of Justice [2015] No. 7) (hereinafter referred to as “Deepening Prison Affairs Openness”) and the “Government Information Disclosure Regulations,” Ms. Jin’s husband on February 25, 2023, submitted the “Government Information Disclosure Application Form” to Ma Xiao, the legal representative of the Liaoning No. 2 Women’s Prison, and Gao Changsheng, the legal representative of Liaoning Provincial Prison Administration Bureau. He submitted another application to the Liaoning Provincial Department of Justice on March 31.
Below is his demand:
1) publicize the identity of the person(s) who issued the order to deny Ms. Jin’s communication with her family (including phone calls, in-person visits, and video calls), the reasons for such denial, and information about the executors;
2) publicize the fact that Ms. Jin was designated as a “strictly controlled criminal” and the legal basis for the strict control;
3) disclose what caused Ms. Jin’s leg injury (walking with a limp, which lasted a year and a half);
4) disclose whether the prison has approved Ms. Jin’s medical treatment, and if so, disclose her medical records and medical certificates;
5) whether the head of the ward knew about Ms. Jin’s physical disability and whether she reported Ms. Jin’s injury to her superiors;
6) publicize channels of how to file complaints against the guards of Liaoning No. 2 Women’s Prison for violating legal procedures.
As Ms. Jin’s husband didn’t receive any response after twenty days, he submitted “Application for Administrative Reconsideration” to the Liaoning government.
Continued Efforts to Seek Justice
Meanwhile, Ms. Jin’s husband called Shenyang City Suburban Procuratorate to complain about his denied visitation rights.
The staff member who answered the phone said, “You need to first communicate with the prison about why you are denied visitation. If you have questions about their response, you can apply for reconsideration. If you are not satisfied with the reconsideration, you can go to the prison administration bureau to get a review. If you are still not satisfied after the review by the prison administration bureau, you can go to the Disciplinary Committee of the Provincial Prison Administration Bureau to file a report.”
Ms. Jin’s husband asked, “I’m calling you now to report about this situation. Can you help us to resolve it?”
The person said, “We will make note of your case. And I’ve already told you what to do.”
Ms. Jin’s husband then called the Liaoning Prison Administration Bureau to report and requested to see her every month to make sure she is safe.
He said, “The prison rules state that we can meet once a month. The prison guards took out the prison document and said the rules were set internally. You can’t use various excuses to prevent me from visiting. Can you guarantee my wife’s safety? She is sent to the strict control team and not allowed any visits because she refused to plead guilty. She’s simply practicing her belief, but she was sentenced for that. The prison only needs to watch over her to make sure that she does not escape. If she said she is guilty but she didn’t acknowledge it in her heart, then what’s the point of forcing her to plead guilty? Didn’t the Chinese Communist Party say that they protect people’s freedom of belief?”
The staffer replied, “We kept the record of your complaint and will check with the prison as soon as possible. Someone from the prison will contact you.”
When Ms. Jin’s husband asked for the matter to be resolved quickly, the staffer said, “We will help you to verify as soon as possible.”
It’s not clear whether the bureau has provided any update to Ms. Jin’s husband after the call. He said he will continue to defend her rights until she returns home safely.
Related reports:
Liaoning Woman Suffers Heinous Torture in Prison
Liaoning Woman Tortured in Prison for Not Renouncing Her Faith
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Category: Torture of Women
