Highly Regarded Artist Arrested for Eighth Time, Whereabouts Unknown

(Minghui.org) Mr. Qin Wei, a Beijing artist, was arrested again on May 18, 2016. His family has repeatedly asked about his whereabouts, but the police refuse to tell them.

Mr. Qin was arrested because he practices Falun Dafa. Like many other practitioners, Mr. Qin talks to people about Falun Dafa and tells them how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is persecuting the practice. As a result, officers from the Shuguang Police Station illegally arrested him in the Haidian District on May 18. They also ransacked his home that day, and took away some printed materials.

This is the eighth time that Mr. Qin has been arrested for his belief.

Two Labor Camp Detentions and Imprisoned for Five Years

After the persecution started in July 1999, Qin Wei appealed to government officers about the persecution of Falun Dafa. In October 1999, he was detained in Haidian Detention Center for one month.

Because he continued to appeal for Falun Dafa Mr. Qin was arrested twice in 2000: once in the beginning of the year with a 50-day detention, and once in March with a 30-day detention, followed by time in a labor camp. At the labor camp, Mr. Qin was severely beaten, shocked with electric batons until his face was covered with blisters, and deprived of sleep for 20 days.

Mr. Qin was arrested for the fourth time in October 2003 and detained until May 2004. This time, in addition to being tortured and subjected to brainwashing attempts, officials tried a new method to break his resolve: every time he fell asleep, a loud and high-pitched noise would wake him up. Mr. Qin was subjected to this torment for five months. As a result, he developed atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat) which led to cardiac arrest.

He was arrested for the fifth time in 2004, and imprisoned for five-and-a-half years at the Qianjin Prison in Beijing. He was forced to perform slave labor and again subjected to brainwashing, torture, and solitary confinement.

In October 2012, Mr. Qin was arrested for the sixth time and held at the Xin'an Labor Camp for six months.

When he was arrested for the seventh time in May 2015, police ransacked his home and took him away because he “circumvented the Internet blockade.”

Uplifting Principles

Mr. Qin is a talented artist. After graduating from the Central Academy of Art and Design with a major in painting, he taught at a renowned middle school. He began practicing Falun Dafa in May 1996, and experienced many positive changes in his outlook on life.

Before he began practicing, Mr. Qin only focused on his own painting and career. The principles of Falun Gong – Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance – helped him focus more on improving his teaching and helping his students. He became more open-minded and willing to help others. His students and colleagues respected and admired him.

While he was imprisoned in 2006, he lost his job. After he was released in 2008, Mr. Qin supported himself by teaching painting. His students and their parents liked him because of his teaching skills and high moral standard.

However, the police continued to harass Mr. Qin, and sometimes up to six people were assigned to monitor him near his home. Mr. Qin treated them like friends, and often talked with them about Falun Dafa, and told them that millions of people worldwide practice.

It has been over a week since Mr. Qin's eighth arrest. His family has contacted several police stations and detention centers, but they still do not know where he is being held.

Shuguang Police Station: [phone], [phone], [phone].Haidian Police Department: [phone], [phone], [phone], [phone], [phone], [phone]Peng Tao, deputy head of Haidian Police Department: [phone]Haidian Detention Center: [phone]