(Minghui.org) After the Chinese Communist Party started its nationwide “zero-out” campaign aimed to force Falun Gong practitioners on the government's blacklists to renounce their faith, many practitioners in Baiyin City, Gansu Province have been harassed by local authorities. When the practitioners refused to comply, the authorities targeted their families instead.
1. 85-Year-Old Senior and Her Family Harassed
Ms. Liao An'an, an 85-year-old retired government official, was harassed on November 10, 2020, when five people went to her home, trying to force her to sign a prepared document to renounce her faith. Ms. Liao firmly refused.
Three days later, these people called Ms. Liao's son and threatened that if his mother didn't sign the document, he would be jobless.
The next day, they called Ms. Liao's grandson, who had been staying in China because he couldn't return to Canada for college due to the pandemic. They threatened that if Ms. Liao didn't sign the document, he might not ever be able to go back to Canada.
Two days later, on November 16, the officers came to Ms. Liao's home again. She refused to open the door. The same day, the authorities also went to Lanzhou City, about 50 miles from Baiyin, to harass her daughter. They tried to pressure the younger woman into persuading her mother to give up her faith and also threatened to harass Ms. Liao's granddaughter working in Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province.
Ms. Liao started to practice Falun Gong in 1996. Because of her belief, she has suffered over 20 years of persecution. She has been detained at a forced labor camp for a year and sentenced to prison twice, each with a five year duration. Furthermore, she was taken to brainwashing centers and detention centers on multiple occasions. Her home has been raided many times. To avoid persecution, she was forced into displacement for 10 years. The government also suspended her pension starting in 2016.
2. Mr. Zhang Tao Harassed
In the past two months, the local authorities repeatedly harassed Mr. Zhang Tao in Baiyin City. They tried all means to force him to renounce Falun Gong by signing a document and even promised to offer money for his signature.
3. Mr. Wang Ligui and His Daughter Harassed
When the local authorities failed to force Mr. Wang Ligui to sign a document to renounce his faith in Falun Gong, they went to threaten his daughter who was working at an oil company. They declared that if she couldn't make her father sign the document, she would be fired immediately.
4. Ms. Cui Peizhen and Her Son Harassed
Ms. Cui Peizhen experienced similar harassment. Her son was threatened that he would be fired by his work unit if his mother refused to renounce her faith.
5. Mr. Liu Zhanqi and His Son Harassed
Mr. Liu Zhanqi is steadfast in his faith and firmly refused to sign the document in the harassment campaign. The local authorities forced his son to sign the document on his behalf.
6. Ms. Wang Caixiao Harassed
Ms. Wang Caixiao was brought to the local police station and held there for two hours, where policemen attempted to get her signature on the renunciation statement.
7. Mr. Zhang Guangli and Ms. Wang Hui Harassed
On December 9, 2020, the police put up Missing Person Notices around Baiyin City in search of Mr. Zhang Guangli and Ms. Wang Hui. Both practitioners have been forced to live away from home to hide from the harassment. The police posted a big reward to solicit the public's help to report them.
