Re-Enactments of How the Police Cruelly Torture Falun Gong Practitioners in Yilan County, Heilongjiang Province

The police in Yilan County, Heilongjiang Province, cruelly torture detained Falun Gong practitioners, and they also instigate the inmates to do the same. These torture methods include, but are not limited to the following: using a plastic bag to suffocate the practitioners, slamming their heads against the wall, scraping their rib cages, whipping them with a bamboo stick, and piercing their fingertips.

Practitioner Ms. Zhang Min lost her precious life after being force-fed highly concentrated salt water, which caused her to choke as her lungs had been severely damaged by previous beatings. Practitioner Mr. Song Ruiyi passed away soon after his release from jail because of the torture he suffered in prison. For example, at the instigation of policeman Lin Zhong, the inmates choked him with a towel. The following photos show re-enactments of these torture methods. They are based on descriptions supplied by the victims who have been released, and they demonstrate the abuses Falun Gong practitioners have suffered at the hands of police officers and criminal inmates.

1. Slapping the Face

Police officers arbitrarily slap practitioners' faces regardless of their age or gender. Several female practitioners' faces swelled up and they experienced ringing in the ears for many months after getting slapped numerous times (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1

2. Kicking

Police officers knock practitioners to the ground and violently kick them with their heavy leather boots. Some female practitioners were kicked until they bled, and some practitioners' internal organs were injured. Most of them experienced pain in their rib cages for many days. Several male practitioners were hit and kicked until they lost consciousness. Then when they regained consciousness after an emergency rescue, they were made to suffer the same torture all over again (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2

3. "Chopping" with the Edge of a Leather Belt

The police fold a thick and wide leather belt and then use its edge to "chop" practitioners' hands. Female practitioners' hands swell and are in pain for several days after this torture (Fig. 3).

Fig. 3

4. Suffocation with a Plastic Bag

The police put a plastic bag over the practitioners' heads and temporarily suffocate them while asking, "Will you renounce Falun Gong?" One female practitioner almost died from this choking torture (Fig. 4).

Fig. 4

5. Whipping with a Leather Belt

Some police officers use a leather belt to whip practitioners' hands, faces, and heads. They do not even spare young female practitioners. Practitioners' hands and faces swell up immediately from this type of torture, and they almost pass out due to the unbearable pain (Fig. 5).

Fig. 5

Some police officers pull down the male practitioners' trousers and fiercely whip their buttocks, causing their buttocks and hip areas to swell up with purple and black bruises. They are in pain for many days afterwards (Fig. 6).

Fig. 6

6. Knocking the Head Against the Wall

Police officers knock female practitioners' heads against the wall. This type of torture causes a big lump on the head, dizziness and blurred vision. Some practitioners bleed while others pass out (Fig. 7).

Fig. 7

7. Scraping the Rib Cage

Police officers pull up practitioners' shirts and use their fingers, small spoons, ladles, tweezers, iron boxes, or bamboo scrubbing brushes to scrape or scratch practitioners' rib cages. This causes their chests to turn purple and black. The pain is so unbearable that after such torture, one young female practitioner convulsed uncontrollably and could not lie down for several days (Fig. 8).