Incapacitated after Ten Years of Imprisonment, Hunan Woman Dies Two Years After Release

A Hengyang City, Hunan Province resident passed away on March 2, 2020, after suffering years of persecution for her faith in Falun Gong, an ancient spiritual and meditation discipline that has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999. She was 72.

Ms. Xiao Meijun, a retired food transportation worker, took up Falun Gong in 1996 and credited the practice for improving her health and character. Because of not giving up her faith in the face of the persecution, she was given two prison terms for a total of ten years. She was severely tortured and injected with unknown drugs. By the time she was released in 2018, Ms. Xiao was incapacitated and had lost most of her teeth due to forced-feedings.

First Sentencing
Ms. Xiao and her husband, Mr. Wang Shengliang, were arrested on June 4, 2001 for raising awareness about the persecution of Falun Gong. They were sentenced to seven and five years by the Zhuhui District Court, respectively.

The local intermediate court held an appeal hearing on September 2, 2002. The court refused to allow their family to attend the hearing and rushed through the procedure in half an hour.

Ms. Xiao was later taken to Hunan Province Women’s Prison and Mr. Wang to Jin City Prison.

Their son, who was only 16 then, was also detained for two weeks. He had to quit school and did odd jobs to support himself after he was released, while his parents were both imprisoned.

Ms. Xiao was released on June 3, 2008.

Second Prison Term
The couple were arrested again on May 19, 2015 for distributing informational materials about Falun Gong. They appeared in the Xiangtan County Court on January 21, 2016 and were both sentenced to three years on February 18.

Ms. Xiao was transferred to Hunan Province Women’s Prison on July 14, 2016 and Mr. Wang to Wangling Prison on July 15.

Incapacitated After Prison Abuse
At Hunan Province Women’s Prison, Ms. Xiao was held in isolation in a dark room. Other inmates were instigated by the guards to beat and verbally abuse her. They didn’t allow her to talk to others and often forced her to stand or sit for prolonged period of time without moving. Sometimes she was denied restroom use and had to relieve herself in her pants.

Guards Tang Ying and Li Jun once said, “The Chinese Communist Party told us to persecute you! It’s no big deal even if we beat you to death! The Communist Party is our boss!”

The guards later ordered the inmates to inject Ms. Xiao with unknown drugs. She fell into a coma and was resuscitated in the hospital.

After years of persecution, Ms. Xiao became incapacitated and was unable to walk on her own. Her hands shook involuntarily. Most of her teeth fell out during the punitive forced-feedings.

Ms. Xiao never recovered after she was released on May 18, 2018. She passed away on March 2, 2020.