Woman, 85, Dies after Health Declines Due to Police Harassment

Ms. Cai Shurun, a Dalian City, Liaoning Province resident, was talking to people about Falun Gong at the local train station in 2016 when a few police officers approached and attempted to drag her into a police car.

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is an ancient spiritual and meditation discipline that has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999.

Some onlookers protested to the police and blocked them from taking Ms. Cai away, saying, “It’s not right for you to treat an elderly woman this way.”

Unable to refute the crowd, the police let go of Ms. Cai’s arms. But they confiscated Ms. Cai’s bag, which had the keys to her home, her senior bus pass, and a few copies of Falun Gong materials.

A week later, a few officers searched Ms. Cai’s home and took her Falun Gong books and related materials. She and her husband were terrified. Fearing the persecution, her children also attempted to persuade her to give up her faith.

Under enormous mental pressure, Ms. Cai’s health began to decline. She didn’t go out for more than three months.

A police officer and Feng Bo, a staff member of the local residential committee, came to harass Ms. Cai again on September 1, 2017. Ms. Cai told them that no law has ever criminalized Falun Gong in China, and that the government fabricated propaganda to attack her faith. She urged the officers not to participate in the persecution.

Feng said to her, “Don’t go out to talk to people [about Falun Gong] anymore.”

Ms. Cai’s daughter responded, “My mom is staying home all the time now. She has gained good health after practicing Falun Gong and doesn’t require care from us despite her age. We all support her in doing it.”

After the officers left, Ms. Cai’s health quickly declined even further. She was soon unable to go down stairs by herself, and became bedridden. She passed away on April 18, 2019, at the age of 85.