United States: After Suffering Inhumane Torture, Ms. Zhou Xuefei is Reunited With Her Husband in New York

After almost four years of separation and inhuman suffering, Ms. Zhou Xuefei arrived at Newark International Airport to join her husband, Mr. Lu Chaohui.

Mr. Lu Chaohui reunites with his wife, Ms. Zhou Xuefei, after four years of separation	Interview with Mr. Lu Chaohui and his wife Ms. Zhou Xuefei at the airport

A Prisoner of Conscience

Ms. Zhou Xuefei is a commercial designer. In November 2000, police in China unlawfully arrested her for distributing leaflets containing information about Falun Gong. She was sentenced to three years of hard labour in China's notorious forced labour camps, including the Sanshui Women's Forced Labour Camp. Because she stayed firm in her belief, she was forced into hard labour during those three years, assigned unimaginable workloads, and suffered inhumane torture.

In New York, Lu Chaohui spoke about Falun Gong to those present. He explained that it is a cultivation practice that allows practitioners to improve their physical and mental health. Most importantly, those who practise Falun Gong follow the principles "Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance." Many people in all areas of the world are very interested in this practice.

The former communist leader, Jiang Zemin, and his followers are responsible for the inhumane persecution against Falun Gong practitioners. To justify the persecution they slandered and defamed Falun Gong to the public. Zhou Xuefei wanted for people to hear the truth. Lu Chaohui said that he also practises Falun Gong and that it was for this that he had to give up his job in China and immigrate to Atlanta to be able to practise Falun Gong. Lu Chaohui alleged that Jiang's persecution of Falun Gong is illegal under China's law.

Prisoners at the forced labour camp monitored Zhou Xuefei around the clock. Prisoners were coerced and encouraged by prison guards to torture and abuse Zhou Xuefei and other Falun Gong practitioners who refused to renounce their belief. Over the past three years, the labour camp forbade any communication between Zhou Xuefei and her husband. She was forced to produce needlework products for export. She was not only subjected to hard labour, but also was forced to endure torture, abuse, and extreme mental pressure. She became malnourished, and her eyesight deteriorated greatly, leaving her almost blind. Despite that, Zhou Xuefei was still detained after her unlawful three-year detention term expired. It is common for Chinese authorities not to release Falun Gong practitioners who do not succumb to brainwashing.

A China expert at Yale University stated, "Imprisoning people who follow the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance can be equated to the September the 11th terrorist attack that took place in New York. Such atrocities will have a long-term effect on the Chinese society, just like 9/11 had on the Americans. This group of people, after having suffered imprisonment, kept high moral standards, freedom of mind, and did not compromise the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance. They will be seen by history as the noblest prisoners in China."

Rescue Efforts Set Her Free

Lu Chaohui was a tax auditor in Shenzhen City, Quandong Province. When Zhou Xuefei was arrested, they had been married for less than two months. To rescue his wife, Lu Chaohui left no stone unturned. He called on all who could be of help, wrote countless letters and petitions, and attended many activities to protest his wife's imprisonment.

Americans also helped to rescue Zhou Xuefei. In 2002, US Congressman Saxby Chambliss and US Senator Max Cleland wrote letters to Secretary of State Powell and President Bush, requesting that they liberate Zhou Xuefei.

In October of 2002, during the first joint student conference, representatives from universities in Georgia passed a resolution on behalf of over 100,000 students, requesting the Chinese government set free Zhou Xuefei, wife of Georgian resident Lu Chaohui.

Many US Congressional representatives wrote letters to the President and the State Department in an effort to gain Zhou Xuefei's release. Georgia Congressman Mr. Miller contacted the American Embassy in Beijing. Congresswoman Linda also contacted the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou City to seek the release of Zhou Xuefei. As soon as Congressman Louis learnt of the extended detention of Zhou Xuefei, he wrote to Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and called for the immediate release of Zhou Xuefei. More than 100 State Assemblymen in Georgia unanimously passed Resolution No. 624, calling for the release of Zhou Xuefei.

The story of Lu Chaohui and Zhou Xuefei gained the attention of the mainstream American media. In December 2003, the Fox-5 TV Station in Atlanta interviewed Lu Chaohui about Zhou Xuefei's situation. The interview became headline news that evening. The Atlanta Charter, the largest newspaper in the US southeast region, reported about Zhou Xuefei's unlawful detention several times. On Thanksgiving Day in 2002, the Atlanta Charter published a report "I came home, she was gone." It reported on the story of Atlanta resident Mr. Lu Chaohui and his wife Ms. Zhou Xuefei. The article recounted the young couple's happy life before the Jiang regime began to persecute Falun Gong in China. It told of the torment and the persecution they suffered, and the harm it caused to their families. The article touched countless people's hearts and was republished by several newspapers. Many people told Lu Chaohui, "We have heard of your story," when they met him during rescue activities for his wife.

Reunited After So Much Suffering

On the 13th of January, 2004, Zhou Xuefei finally gained her freedom. She had been imprisoned in the Guondong Shanshui Women's Forced Labour Camp for over three years. Lu Chaohui was unable to get in touch with her, as the phone number of his parents-in-law had changed unexpectedly, and international calls appeared to be blocked. Lu Chaohui said that phone lines of both his and Xuefei's parents were monitored. But, it was a happy ending for Zhou Xuefei and Lu Chaohui. She finally arrived at the Newark International Airport via Thailand.

Lu Chaohui welcomed his wife at the airport, holding a fresh flower bouquet in his hands. They had been separated for almost four years. Over thirty Falun Gong practitioners from New York, New Jersey, Boston, and Atlanta gathered at the airport to welcome her. A reporter asked Lu Chaohui what he felt after seeing his wife. He answered, "It brings me great happiness to reunite with my wife." While being imprisoned in the labour camp for over three years, Zhou Xuefei was not allowed to communicate with her husband. She had no idea about his situation. While talking about her release, Lu Chaohui said, "I think that the most effective way to stop such atrocities is to expose this kind of incident to the international community. Let international society judge such incidents. This is a valuable way to limit the persecution, since the persecution instigated by Jiang's followers is so appalling. Although Zhou Xuefei attained her freedom, we cannot stop our efforts. There are still many Falun Gong practitioners imprisoned and severely persecuted in Shanshui and other labour camps. We feel that it is our responsibility to continue to appeal, so we can end the persecution." To express their gratitude, Lu Chaohui said that he and his wife would visit government officials, non-governmental organisations, and student groups who were concerned about her situation, and who were active in gaining her release.

Zhou Xuefei was extremely surprised, and displayed her joy, when she saw the big welcome gathering at the airport. She was dressed in a traditional Chinese dress as she pressed her hands together in front of her chest to show her gratefulness to the Falun Gong practitioners who were present. After a brief interview, she gave Lu Chaohui a card that she had bought in Thailand to express her feelings about finally being free.

(Taken from an article by the Epochtimes)