(Minghui.org)
Name: Xu JinrongChinese Name: 许金荣Gender: FemaleAge: 70City: LinqingProvince: ShandongOccupation: Retired transportation company employeeDate of Death: February 25, 2024Date of Most Recent Arrest: November 29, 2019Most Recent Place of Detention: Linqing City Domestic Security Office
A Linqing City, Shandong Province, woman suffered a serious brainstem hemorrhage on February 23, 2024. She fell into a coma and died two days later on February 25. Ms. Xu Jinrong’s passing capped over two decades of persecution for practicing her faith, Falun Gong, which has been targeted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999.
Because she refused to renounce her faith, Ms. Xu was repeatedly arrested and detained. She was given three years of forced labor in 2000. Although she survived the brutal torture, the continued harassment over the years left her living in fear. The mental pressure took a toll on her health, which eventually resulted in her death.
Taking Up Falun Gong
Ms. Xu was born on May 27, 1954. She worked at the Linqing City Transportation Company before she retired. Before taking up Falun Gong in May 1993, she suffered various ailments, including liver, spleen, gallbladder and stomach illnesses, as well as severe insomnia. To improve her health, she tried various qigongs, but nothing helped. She was happy to be illness-free again after practicing Falun Gong. In addition to the health benefit, Falun Gong’s spiritual teaching also changed her from a competitive person to someone who was peaceful, kind and considerate.
Two Detentions
In order to force Ms. Xu to renounce Falun Gong, her workplace took her to a hotel on July 19, 1999, the day before the persecution officially started. She was held there for six months and was not released until the Chinese New Year in February 2000. Local police also raided her home and confiscated her Falun Gong books.
Ms. Xu went to Beijing to appeal for Falun Gong in June 2000. She was arrested and taken back to the local detention center. She held a hunger strike to protest the persecution and was released five days later, after being extorted 2,000 yuan by the police.
Weeks later, in July 2000, Ms. Xu’s husband fell ill and was hospitalized. During the time, her workplace and local police began to monitor her and followed her to her husband’s hospital room. The aggressive surveillance upset her husband, which slowed down his recovery. The monitoring of Ms. Xu’s daily life continued after her husband was discharged.
In addition to the detention and surveillance, Ms. Xu’s workplace also suspended her salary in July 1999 and did not reinstate it until 2002.
Forced Labor Camp Term
Ms. Xu was given a three-year labor camp term on September 10, 2000. At the Shandong Province Women’s Forced Labor Camp, she was brutally tortured for holding firm to Falun Gong. The guards shocked her with electric batons for an extended period of time, leaving scars on her neck and wrists. She was also held in solitary confinement. In the winter, the guards opened the window to freeze her. Sometimes she wasn’t allowed to sleep. Instead she was forced to stand, with her hands, arms and legs tied up to the bed frame. In another torture, she was hung up by the wrists. She lost feeling in her arms and hands for a long time after that. Last but not least, the guards forced her to do unpaid labor, sometimes up to 16 hours a day. After over one and a half years of torture, she was released ahead of time.
During the time she was detained, her husband worked hard to seek justice for her, but to no avail. The mental pressure took a toll on his health and he passed away in 2006.
Harassment in Her Final Years
Ms. Xu continued to face harassment after she was released. Two incidents documented in recent years happened between 2017 and 2019.
The harassment in May 2017 was by officers of the Xinhua Police Station, Xianfeng Police Station and staff members of the residential committee.
Ms. Xu was taken to the Linqing City Domestic Security Office on November 29, 2019. The police attempted to force her to sign a statement to renounce Falun Gong, threatening to suspend her pension. She didn’t comply and was released that evening.
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