Man Dies in Custody—Three Family Members Arrested for Viewing His Body

A 48-year-old man who died in custody nine months after being arrested for practising Falun Gong had injuries on his head, a ligature mark on his neck, and multiple bruises on his body, according to information collected by Minghui.org.

Mr. Xi Shuansheng, a Baoji City, Shaanxi Province resident, passed away in a hospital on October 30, 2019, two days after being sent there for resuscitation. The Weibin District Detention Center, where he was being held, claimed that he suddenly fell ill and passed out while using the restroom on the morning of October 28.

When Mr. Xi’s family rushed to the hospital with detention centre guards on October 28, he was still in the emergency room. His head was covered with blood and a nasal cannula was in place.

After Mr. Xi’s death, three of his family members were arrested for viewing his body. They were all intimidated by the authorities and didn’t dare to reveal information about his death after being released.

The authorities paid Mr. Xi’s family 30,000 yuan as compensation. His body was cremated five days after his death.

Mr. Xi's death came nine months after he was arrested on January 13, 2019, after being reported for talking to people about Falun Gong. The police didn’t inform his family of his whereabouts. His loved ones found him at the Weibin Detention Centre after two weeks of searching.

The passing of Mr. Xi marked an end to his years-long suffering for upholding his faith. He served eight years in Weinan Prison after being arrested on November 9, 2008 for making informational materials about Falun Gong. He was forced to stand for days and deprived of sleep because he did not give up his faith.

Only two years after being released in 2016, he was arrested again on May 8, 2018, after being reported for studying Falun Gong books with other local practitioners. The head of the 610 Office, an extralegal agency created to persecute Falun Gong, slapped him on the face, stomped on his head, and dragged him down the stairs. He was locked in a chair and interrogated at the police station. He was released five days later.