Persecution of Falun Gong Claims Second Life in Same Family

An incapacitated man was found dead at home alone on August 22, 2018, while his father and younger brother are serving time for their faith. The 49-year-old man's death came only three years after his mother's passing.

The late Mr. Yang Junfeng and Ms. Lin Songbai add to a growing list of Falun Gong practitioners who have lost their lives for holding firm to their faith.

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a mind-body practice that has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since July 1999.

The deceased mother and son in Shulan City are not the only members in their family targeted for refusing to renounce Falun Gong. Mr. Yang's father, Mr. Yang Guoshu, and his brother, Mr. Yang Junqi, had also been repeatedly arrested and harassed for upholding their faith.

All four members of the Yang family were given one year of forced labor in July 2007. By the time they were released, Mr. Yang Junfeng had become mentally disabled and unable to stand straight. In the meantime, his mother began to suffer from memory loss and other health problems. She passed away in early 2015, and her husband and younger son were arrested again just months later, on May 25, for handing out Falun Gong informational materials.

Mr. Yang Guoshu and Mr. Yang Junqi were each sentenced to six years in prison, and they have no idea how Mr. Yang Junfeng died alone.