(Minghui.org) A married couple in Nong’an County, Jilin Province were arrested on July 15, 2020, for their faith in Falun Gong. On August 25, the husband, Mr. Jiang Quande, died at home after being released because of a physical condition. His wife, Ms. Sun Xiuying, is now detained at the Nong’an County Detention Center and awaiting trial by the Dehui Court.
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.
Below is an open letter written by Ms. Sun’s son to the judge, urging him to drop the case against Ms. Sun.
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Dear Judge,
I’m Sun Xiuying’s son. Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. I believe you also knew my father, Jiang Quande, who had just passed away as a result of the persecution this August. Now my mother is still detained at the Nong’an County Detention Center. My once happy family is now broken apart.
My father used to work at Nong’an County grain storage bureau as a lumper. He often worked from 6 a.m. until 8 or 9 p.m. He usually didn’t have time for a lunch break, but just ate quickly and went back to work. The hard work took a toll on his health and he gradually became addicted to drinking and smoking. His temper also became worse over time. When he got drunk, he would fight with and beat my mother. Sometimes I saw my mother weeping alone at night.
Later on, my mother heard that Falun Gong can improve one’s health and character, so both she and my father began to practice it. A year later, my father indeed quit smoking and drinking. He was like a different person, who began to care about my mother. My family was full of happiness and harmony again.
But our happy life didn’t last very long. In 1999, Jiang Zemin (the former head of the Chinese Communist Party) began to persecute Falun Gong. Between 1999 and 2001, my father was arrested three times. In 2002, both of my parents were arrested. I was only a teenager at that time and I couldn’t fully comprehend what was happening.
Without our parents, my older brother and I went to friends and relatives’ homes, begging for food. Some relatives rejected us and kept us out of their door. We often felt helpless and desperate. Every day was a struggle for us, and every day, we were longing for our parents to come home.
A year later, my mother came back, but my father was sentenced to 11 years. In those years when my father was imprisoned, my mother worked very hard to support my brother and me, until both of us got married and moved out. I couldn’t imagine how much sacrifice my mother has made and how much suffering she went through in order to raise us, all by herself.
Torture illustration: tiger bench
For my father, he was subjected to brutal torture while in custody, including the tiger bench, death bed, being tied up, electric shocks and sitting on a small stool without moving. The prison guards also put a plastic bag over his head and pierced his fingers and nipples with sharpened bamboo sticks.
In another torture, the guards cuffed his hands behind his back and pulled his hands over his head to the front. They repeated this more than ten times. Then they shook his wrists. His right arm was broken and became disabled as a result. His teeth were all knocked out as well.
Having barely survived the torture, my father finally came back home in 2013, only to be arrested again in 2015 and then in 2016 with my mother. On July 15, 2020, both of them were arrested one more time. My father was already very weak when he was arrested. He passed away on August 25 not long after he was released. My mother wasn’t even allowed to see him for the last time.
Now my brother and I are focusing all of our efforts on rescuing our mother, who is already 66 years old. Because of this persecution, she has suffered way too much. But despite her suffering, she still upholds her faith and lives by the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance. She never hesitated to help others, even if it meant she would have to bear the losses herself.
If she saw someone on the bus who didn’t have change, she would pay for the fare for them. If she saw an elderly person on the street, she would help them carry things and help get them home. Although she didn’t have much money herself, she always extended a hand when our relatives came to borrow money from her. When a relative cheated her out of more than 10,000 yuan, she didn’t hold a grudge against that person.
I couldn’t understand, for a good person like my mother, how could she break the law and “use a cult organization to undermine law enforcement?” [Editor's note: this is a common pretext used by the CCP to charge Falun Gong.] I have looked it up online, and I didn’t see any law that designates Falun Gong as a cult.
The Constitution protects religious freedom, which is a basic right that cannot be infringed upon by any government entity, organization or individual. Now there are people in over 100 countries and regions practicing Falun Gong, and only in China, are they persecuted.
It’s sad to see so many people taking part in the persecution ordered by Jiang Zemin. Jiang has three persecution policies, “ruin their reputation, torture them physically, and bankrupt them financially.” However, none of the policies were issued in hard copy, but only delivered orally. I think they know very well themselves that once Falun Gong is vindicated in the future, they would be held accountable for it. But without any evidence of their involvement, the lower-level officials who carry out the persecution policies for them would become their scapegoats when the truth is brought out to broad daylight.
My revered judge, I know you are also facing pressure from your superiors. But you have your own voice too. I hope you can make the decision with your conscience and restore justice for my mother. My brother and I have lost our father and we cannot afford to lose our mother again. The divine beings are watching us. I believe you will be blessed for your righteous choice.
I wish you and your family happiness and peace. Thank you!
Sun Xiuying’s sonNovember 10, 2020
Related reports:
Once Imprisoned for 11 Years, Jilin Man Dies a Month and a Half after Latest Arrest for His Faith
Fourteen Falun Gong Practitioners Targeted in Group Arrests in Jilin Province Remain in Custody
