Elderly Mr. Li Jiuzhi in Dehui City, Jilin Province Dies as a Result of Years of Police Harassment and Abuse

Mr. Li Jiuzhi was a Falun Dafa practitioner who lived in Shuangchengzi Village, Biangang Township, Dehui City, Jilin Province. He was 77 years old. Mr. Li was an elementary school teacher. During the Cultural Revolution (1966 - 1976) he suffered severe political persecution. In 1980, he became disabled as a result of those years of mistreatment. He suffered from arthritis, and the entire left side of his body turned numb. He had to retire because he became mentally unstable due to a severe neural disorder. He had been respected among colleagues and neighbours for being hardworking and willing to help others.

In July 1996, Mr. Li Jiuzhi started practising Falun Gong. His physical condition improved immediately. Soon, all his symptoms were gone. His son, son-in-law, and three granddaughters also started practising Falun Gong. Since the beginning of the persecution of Falun Gong by Jiang Zemin's, [former leader of China and instigator of the persecution] regime on July 20th, 1999, five of the six members of his family had been arrested. In total, members of the family had been arrested sixteen times for appealing and distributing leaflets exposing the persecution and telling people the facts about Falun Gong. His third granddaughter is currently in custody. In the past three years, Mr. Li lived a lonely life. He was gravely concerned about his loved ones who had to leave town to avoid arrest or who were wrongfully imprisoned. He had been tormented by worry, loneliness, and thoughts of his children and grandchildren. Local police officers constantly came to his home late at night to harass him, demanding cash and information on the whereabouts of his family members. Mr. Li had been under extreme pressure and suffered from a great amount psychological pain. On October 31st, 2007, Mr. Li Jiuzhi died at the age of 77.

Mr. Li's family has suffered years of unlawful treatment. His eldest son Mr. Li Hongzhen was taken into custody four times, totalling 423 days; and his son-in-law Mr. He Wen, was held in custody twice, totalling 380 days. His eldest granddaughter Ms. Li Zhenyu was held in custody twice for a total of 386 days. His second granddaughter Ms. Li Zhen Yun was held in custody five times for a total of 387 days. Each of them served an additional year of forced labour. Mr. Li Jiuzhi's third granddaughter remains imprisoned at the Jilin Provincial Women's Prison. By November 6th, 2007, she had been held in custody for a total of 1,806 days.

Chinese version available at http://minghui.org/mh/articles/2007/11/30/167421.html