The Persecution of Falun Gong Practitioners in Guizhou Province First Women’s Prison

(Minghui.org) Falun Gong practitioners imprisoned in Guizhou Province First Women’s Prison are held in the Fourth Division. Over the past two-plus decades, practitioners, serving terms of three to ten years, are closely monitored and abused by other inmates in the Fourth Division. Many have also been subjected to various forms of torture.

At Least Seven Deaths to Date

To date, at least seven practitioners have died due to torture in prison. They are:

- Ms. Yang Hongyan, 40, died on July 29, 2004, at the age of 40.- Ms. Gao Qiying, 40, died on February 11, 2010, while serving a three-year term.- Ms. Xu Jiarong, 61, died on May 13, 2008, while serving a seven-year term.- Ms. Chen Lizhi, 69, died on September 9, 2014, while serving a three-year term.- Ms. Wei Yalan, 50, died on September 14, 2007, while serving a five-year term.- Ms. Zhao Mingzhi, 69, died on December 16, 2012, while serving a five-year term.- Ms. Huang Guixian, 67, died on January 18, 2015, while serving a seven-year term.

Brainwashing and Physical Abuse

Most of the practitioners are restricted in the purchase of daily necessities. They are given an extremely small amount of toilet paper and laundry detergent.

To force practitioners to renounce their belief, the guards select inmates who have received higher education and order them to study propaganda slandering Falun Gong. They then order them to “work on” the practitioners.

During the daily brainwashing sessions, practitioners are forced to sit on small plastic stools in two rows facing each other, while the “instructor” inmates read articles and play videos that slander Falun Gong. Practitioners are also forced to write “thought reports.” Those who refuse face extended “education hours,” including at lunch breaks, late at night, and on Sundays and public holidays.

The inmates also write the name of Falun Gong’s founder on the small stool and force practitioners to sit on it. Those who refuse are verbally abused. While seated, practitioners have to put their hands on their legs, look forward, and aren’t allowed to move. When the prison passes out fruit, practitioners must first state that they are criminals before they can take any.

If a practitioner needs to use the restroom, an inmate has to go with her. The inmates sometimes force the practitioners to verbally abuse Falun Gong before allowing her to use the restroom. Some inmates even deprive the practitioners of restroom use. Ms. Zhang Hui went on a hunger strike after she was not allowed to use the restroom.

Those who refuse to be “transformed” are also not allowed to take showers or wash up. Some are only allowed to shower two or three times a year.

Some practitioners are partially starved, as the guards only give them a very small portion of rice for each meal, causing them to become weak and dizzy.

In the heat of the summer, sitting on the plastic stool for long hours each day can cause the buttocks to develop infected sores.

Practitioners who continue to refuse to “transform” are forced to stand outdoors under the scorching sun. Ms. He Guanjie’s face peeled due to a severe sunburn; Ms. Zhang Hui was forced to stand under the sun for two months. Inmates were also forced to stand with the practitioners, causing resentment and hatred.

Ms. Zhang Hui was dragged around on the ground until her clothes were torn. She was later held in solitary confinement and subjected to brainwashing. She was also beaten and had her mouth stuffed with socks for shouting “Falun Dafa is good.” As she continued to stay firm in her faith, the inmates pinned her down and grabbed her hand to force her write a statement slandering Falun Gong.

If a practitioner refuses to cooperate or resists the brainwashing, the guards and inmates often work together to torture her. They turn on the TV to maximum volume during beatings, so that others can’t hear the practitioners’ screams.

The guards frequently threaten the practitioners, saying that they won’t be released if they haven’t renounced Falun Gong by the end of their terms, and will instead be taken to a brainwashing center by the Justice Bureau. Practitioners are also forced to pay a fee every month.

Ms. Ma Yongju, in her 60s, refused to “transform.” The guards only allowed her to go to bed at 12 a.m. every day and then woke her up every hour. The sleep deprivation continued until she was forced to renounce Falun Gong against her will.

Practitioners are also ordered to memorize the prison rules. Those who refuse are punished by being made to stand while other inmates take a nap after lunch.

Ms. Liu Xiaoyue, in her 70s, wasn’t allowed to drink water. The inmates also bullied and humiliated her.

Ms. Hu Jinfen was also verbally abused and bullied every day. She was often made to stand for long hours without moving.

Related Article in Chinese:

贵州省第一女子监狱副监狱长王玉兰的罪恶