Hebei Man, 44, Dies of Abuse-Induced Health Problems

A 44-year-old man from Xiong County, Hebei Province died on March 5th, 2016, after succumbing to health problems he developed as a result of abuse he suffered in prison.

Mr. Li Aige was arrested in August 2002 for telling people about Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline being persecuted by the Chinese communist regime. He was later sentenced to 15 years and sent to Baoding Prison, where the guards subjected him to various forms of abuse on a regular basis.

He developed symptoms of brain haemorrhage in November 2011 and was released on medical parole. Before he was let go, the prison authorities forced his wife to sign a liability waiver promising not to sue them or seek compensation for his medical expenses.

Mr. Li's release didn't bring him any respite, as the police frequently went to his home to harass him. He was never able to recover from his conditions and died in early March this year.

Mr. Li is survived by his wife Ms. Wen Aixia and their teenage son, who had also seen their share of the persecution during the past 16 years. After Mr. Li was arrested in 2002, Ms. Wen, who also practises Falun Gong, had to take their then 4-year-old son to live away from home to avoid arrest.

Ms. Wen returned home the following year to visit her gravely ill father-in-law, only to be arrested days later and given two years of forced labour. Her son was left in the care of her relatives. The boy was happy to have his father back home in 2011, only to lose him just over five years later.