Forced to Drop Out of School at 17, Self-taught Interior Designer Arrested for His Faith

(Minghui.org) When Mr. Zhao Yubo’s mother called him on September 21, 2022, to inform him of the death of his grandmother (her mother), she was devastated to learn that he had been arrested earlier that day for practicing Falun Gong. Unable to cope, she fell ill and became bedridden.

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a spiritual discipline that has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999.

Mr. Zhao’s parents have been divorced for a long time. The 39-year-old interior designer lives in Anshan City, Liaoning Province, with his father. A plainclothes officer knocked on their door on the afternoon of September 21, claiming to be looking for an elderly woman. After his father opened the door, the officer called in more people and ransacked their home. Mr. Zhao’s uncle and a friend of his father who happened to be visiting them were also arrested along with Mr. Zhao and his father.

After two days in the Shannan Police Station, Mr. Zhao was transferred to the Xiuyan Detention Center. His father, uncle, and the friend were released after 30 hours of detention. The police didn’t give them with anything to eat during that time. Mr. Zhao’s father was placed on residential surveillance.

Mr. Zhao’s work computer, a broken printer, Falun Gong books, ID, cellphone, 6,400 US dollars, 18,000 yuan, and other personal belongings were confiscated. His family went to the police station several times to demand a list of the confiscated items, but the police ignored them. The police did give Mr. Zhao a list to sign, but the numbers of Falun Gong items taken from him were exaggerated and he refused to sign it.

A Young Man’s Journey of Finding His True Self

Mr. Zhao began to practice Falun Gong in July 1997 when he was 14. He said that its profound teachings and universal principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance deeply moved him.

He went from being an introverted, passive, and rebellious person to one who was outgoing, warm, and ready to help. His academic performance also improved quickly and he was well-regarded by his classmates.

Just as people around him were impressed with his amazing changes, the persecution started in 1999. With a simple wish to speak up for Falun Gong, Mr. Zhao went to the local government in 2000 to appeal, only to be arrested and forced to write a letter, promising not to go to Beijing to seek justice for Falun Gong.

After that, the 17-year-old faced constant harassment at home and at school. His teacher and school leaders threatened to expel him if he didn’t renounce Falun Gong. With no other choice, he quit school and studied on his own. Yet the police still regularly harassed him.

Despite the hardship and pressure due to the persecution, Mr. Zhao grew into a resilient and strong person, who also has a big heart and is positive and optimistic. He eventually became an interior designer by teaching himself, and his designs were widely acclaimed.

Perpetrators’ contact information:

Sun Rui (孙瑞), head of Shannan Police Station: [phone]Li Haoyuan (李昊远), deputy head of Shannan Police Station: [phone]Shen Geng (申庚), director of Tiexi Domestic Security Office: [phone]Wang Jianjun (王建军), secretary of Anshan City Political and Legal Affairs Committee: [phone], [phone], [phone]

(More perpetrators’ contact information is available in the original Chinese article.)