(Minghui.org)
Name: Zhao MeiChinese Name: 赵梅Gender: FemaleAge: 53City: SongciProvince: HubeiOccupation: N/ADate of Death: early October 2024Date of Most Recent Arrest: August 8, 2015Most Recent Place of Detention: N/A
Minghui.org learned recently that a 53-year-old woman in Songci City, Hubei Province, died in early October 2024, after suffering years of persecution for her faith in Falun Gong.
Ms. Zhao Mei credited Falun Gong for giving her life back. She was involved in a car accident in June 2005 and sustained multiple fractures in her ribs, arms, and legs. The soft tissue in her right ankle was even ripped off. Divorced and unemployed at the time, she felt hopeless and helpless. A Falun Gong practitioner visited her and gave her a copy of Zhuan Falun, the main teaching of Falun Gong.
In just one month of reading the book, Ms. Zhao was able to get out of bed and take care of herself. Her pursuit of a healthy body and raising awareness of the persecution landed her in custody multiple times in the years that followed.
Ms. Zhao was arrested twice in 2008. The first time she was released when she refused to reveal her name or address. The second time she managed to escape when the officer on duty fell asleep.
The police arrested Ms. Zhao again on May 22, 2009, after receiving a tip that she talked to fellow shoppers about Falun Gong. They took her to the Songci City First Detention Center. Less than two weeks later she was given one year of forced labor and transferred to the Wuhan City Women’s Labor Camp. Because she had limited mobility (with three metal rods still in her legs after the car accident), she was denied admission and sent back to the Songci City Detention Center. She was detained for another two months and then released.
After another arrest on May 18, 2011, Ms. Zhao was held at the Songci City Detention Center for more than one month before being issued a formal arrest warrant and released on a one-year bail.
The Shuilu Police Station and the local Xiejiadu Community Office attempted, unsuccessfully, to arrest Ms. Zhao at her home on November 8, 2011. She ended up having to live away from home for about two weeks.
Five officers broke into Ms. Zhao’s home on August 27, 2012 and took her to the Wuhan City Women’s Labor Camp. She was again denied admission and released.
While talking to people about Falun Gong on July 9, 2013, Ms. Zhao was spotted by officers from the Babao Town Police Station. They gave her ten days of detention.
Ms. Zhao’s last arrest took place on August 8, 2015, by officers from the Shadaoguan Town Police Station. She was detained for five days and released on the 14th.
Several community workers harassed Ms. Zhao in mid-June 2021 and ordered her to attend a brainwashing class aimed at forcing her to renounce Falun Gong. She refused to comply. Two days later they hung five banners (four of them being 50-foot-long) bearing messages smearing Falun Gong outside her apartment building. They also installed at least two surveillance cameras facing her apartment unit. People were also seen walking around and monitoring her.
The relentless persecution eventually claimed Ms. Zhao’s life in early October 2024. She was 53.
Related Reports:
Songzi City, Hubei Province: Falun Gong Practitioners Ms. Zhao Mei and Ms. Huang Wanping Arrested
Attempt to Arrest Ms. Zhao Mei Fails
Ms. Zhao Mei and Ms. Huang Wanping from Songzi City, Hubei Province Facing Illegal Sentencing
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