(Minghui.org) When family members of Mr. Zhao Weidong, who has been illegally detained in Shandong No. 1 Men's Prison for almost 10 years, visited the prison on February 25, 2014, the guards didn't let them see Mr. Zhao.
Through Chen Yan, the chief warden of the No. 11 Ward, the family learned that Mr. Zhao was again being subjected to “strict management.” “Strict management” is a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) term that refers to punitive measures in prisons. It usually implies an extension of the person's term if the prison authorities determine that the “mistake” has not been corrected. Other prisoners' rights are also restricted, which incites them to hate and mistreat Falun Gong practitioners.
Chen said, “He is no longer being beaten, just 'disciplined.'” When asked why family members couldn't see him, Chen said, “You can see him after he admits his mistake [in practicing Falun Gong].”
Mr. Zhao Weidong, 52, a former assistant engineer at the Xinhua Machine Factory in Tai'an City, Shandong Province, was sentenced to 12 years of prison on September 23, 2004, by the Intermediate People's Court in Tai'an City. He was arrested on June 25, 2004 and transferred to the Shandong No. 1 Men's Prison in November 2004. He has been detained there since then.
He has been brutally tortured in prison. When the family saw him last time, he was a completely different person. He had lost three teeth and was emaciated. All his teeth were loose, and he couldn't even chew steamed buns. Mr. Zhao used to be strong and weighed about 165 pounds.
In the past decade, Mr. Zhao's wife has had to raise their two children alone. Their firstborn needs intensive care due to cerebral palsy. The second child was just five months old when his father was imprisoned.
Mr. Zhao's father passed away without knowing that his son was in prison. The family couldn't risk telling him, given his health. Mr. Zhao's mother has been bedridden for a year and a half and yearns to see her son.
Parties directly involved in the persecution:
Attorney's Office in the Shandong No. 1 Men's Prison: +86-0531-87072607 Political Department of the Prison: +86-0531-87072760, +86-0531-8707261 Zhan Huacheng (战化程), political department chief: +86-13705406300 (mobile) No. 11 Ward at the Prison: +86-0531-8707268 Chen Yan (陈岩), ward chief Prison guards Liu Qifeng (刘启丰), Li Wei (李伟)
