Respected Police Officer Thrown into Labour Camp

Mr. Zhang Xian, a much respected police officer in Langfang, Hebei Province, was thrown into a labour camp for practising Falun Gong. His attorney filed a lawsuit against his persecutors in January 2013.

Mr. Zhang Xian is a forty-year-old police officer who graduated from Hebei Province Police Academy. He began to practise Falun Gong in July 1995 and has benefited greatly from the cultivation practice. He conducts himself according to Falun Gong's principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. In 1998, he won the title of “Best Household Registration Officer in Langfang City.” He also received a provincial-level award in early 1999.

Persecuted Since 1999

Since the persecution of Falun Gong was launched in 1999, Mr. Zhang has been standing firm on his belief and explaining the facts of Falun Gong. He was forced into brainwashing sessions many times, extorted for large sums of money, and incarcerated in Shijiazhuang Labour Camp twice. His family has also suffered greatly from the persecution.

Forced to Leave Home after Arrest

Mr. Zhang and eleven other practitioners including Wang Liling, Li Xuiqin, Li Liandi and his wife, and Wang Kuiyi, were arrested on October 22nd, 2011. Several of the practitioners were extorted for thirty thousand yuan¹ before they were released. Ms. Wang Liling resisted the extortion and was thrown into a labour camp for eighteen months. Mr. Zhang Xian managed to escape from a brainwashing session but had to leave his home to avoid further persecution.

Denied Due Process

Mr. Zhang was arrested again on July 5th, 2012 and thrown into Xianghe County Detention Centre. Mr. Zhang's family hired an attorney to defend him. However, the Xianhe County Police Department refused to deliver any legal documents to his family and wouldn't allow his attorney or Mr. Zhang's family to see him. Without notifying his family or his attorney, the police department imprisoned Mr. Zhang in Kaiping Labour Camp in Tanshan City.

Mr. Zhang's attorney has been trying to get him released by negotiating with the Xianghe County and Langfang City police departments, the Procuratorate and other offices, but he hasn't received any reply. The attorney filed a charge with the Hebei Provincial Procuratorate against the main persecutors, including Langfang police chief Ran Wenjie and Xianghe County police chief Yang Jianjun.

Mr. Zhang's mother became depressed and her health deteriorated after her son was imprisoned. Before she passed away, her final wish to see her son wasn't fulfilled.

Note

1. "Yuan" is the Chinese currency; 500 yuan is equal to the average monthly income of an urban worker in China.