24 Hours (Toronto, Canada): Alberta Falun Gong ask for Feds help

February 27, 2007 Tuesday
CALGARY EDITION

Supporters of an Alberta man who claims he was tortured in China for being a Falun Gong supporter say they want the federal government to help get the man's wife out of jail.

Thirty-five-year-old Wenyu Liu, imprisoned in 2001, says he was released after reluctantly signing documents denouncing Falun Gong.

But his 34-year-old wife, Yue Yao, remains in a women's prison in Beijing where she is serving a 12-year sentence.

Liu says he has lost contact with his wife, as prison officials don't allow him to write or call her.

Supporters of Liu say they are worried Chinese officials will execute Yao and harvest her vital organs for transplant, and they want Ottawa to pressure the Chinese government to free her.