Lawyers and Rights Defenders

Human Rights Lawyer who Defended Falun Gong Beaten in Chinese Prison

A human rights lawyer from northeast China who was sentenced in November 2009 to seven years in prison for taking Falun Gong practitioners as clients has been beaten and held in solitary confinement, sources inside China have told the Falun Dafa Information Center.

Falun Gong Practitioner Cited in Gao Zhisheng Letter Dies from Torture in Custody

An elderly Falun Gong practitioner, who was cited as a torture victim by prominent attorney Gao Zhisheng in an open letter to China’s leaders, died in January due to injuries incurred in custody, the Falun Dafa Information Center recently learned. Ms. Liu Lihua (刘丽华), 61, is the second of Gao’s interviewees known to have subsequently died from abuse in custody. Gao himself has been “disappeared” by Chinese security forces since February 2009.

Ms. Liu Lihua, 61, Shandong

In 2005, Ms. Liu was interviewed by prominent attorney Gao Zhisheng. Gao subsequently relayed her testimony in the first of his open letters to Chinese Communist Party leaders Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao about the persecution suffered by Falun Gong practitioners in October 2005. On March 14, 2009, Ms. Liu was detained again for distributing informational materials about the persecution against Falun Gong. She was released on September 30, 2009. However, she never recovered from the abuse suffered in custody and died on the evening of January 28 in the hospital after having collapsed the previous day.

Amnesty International: 2009 Annual Report (excerpts)

Dec. 21, 2009: Falun Gong News Bulletin

• FDIC: Argentine Judge Orders Arrest of Top Chinese Communist Party Officials for Crimes Against Humanity • FDIC: Under “Rule of Law” Veneer, Hundreds of Falun Gong Practitioners Illegally Sent to Prison Camps for Up to 18 Years • The Epoch Times: Eyewitness Recounts Forced Organ Removal in China • FDIC: “Pioneering Lawyers in China Defend Falun Gong and Human Rights,” op-ed for International Human Rights Day by Levi Browde, FDIC Executive Director • Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life: Study finds Chinese regime’s restrictions on religious freedom 4th most repressive in the world, including because of Falun Gong persecution • Deutsch Presse Agenteur: Falun Gong sues Chinese official in Taiwan court • Examiner.com: Protection of religious minorities is major theme of 2009 Human Rights Day News Conference • Taipei Times: “China rights violators should be tried: DPP”

Chinese Human Rights Lawyer Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Defending Falun Gong

A human rights lawyer from northeast China was sentenced on November 27 to seven years in prison for taking Falun Gong practitioners as clients and presenting legal arguments that the Chinese Communist Party’s campaign against the spiritual practice is illegal under Chinese law.

Nov. 20, 2009: Falun Gong News Bulletin

* FDIC: “Spanish Court Indicts Top Communist Party Officials for Torture, Genocide of Falun Gong” * FDIC: “10 Things President Obama Should Know For His Visit to China” * FDIC: 41-year-old farmer serving 10-year prison “sentence” dies from prolonged abuse in custody * Freedom House: Falun Gong practitioner included on list of prisoners for President Obama to raise * The Canadian Press: New book by former Canadian diplomat and prominent attorney says Falun Gong prisoners in China still being used as organ sources * The Epoch Times: Falun Gong Practitioner Returns to U.S. After 10-Year Ordeal

Spanish Court Indicts Top Communist Party Officials for Torture, Genocide of Falun Gong

In an unprecedented decision, a Spanish judge has indicted five high-ranking Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials for their role in crimes of torture and genocide committed against Falun Gong practitioners. Among the defendants is former CCP head Jiang Zemin, widely acknowledged as the chief instigator of the campaign to “eradicate” the spiritual practice.

Nov. 10, 2009: Falun Gong News Bulletin

• FDIC: Mr. Huang Lizhong Tortured to Death in Panjin City Prison • NTDTV: Shanghai Falun Gong Practitioner Sues Police for Torture • The Washington Times: Chinese lawyers want Obama to push for Beijing rights • Canada Leads with New Parliamentary Falun Gong Friendship Group • Amnesty International USA: Open Letter to President Obama Highlights Religious Persecution • U.S. State Department: Religious Freedom Report 2009 Cites Arrests and Deaths of Falun Gong Practitioners [move to news from inside china since the core of the posting is a list of practitioner cases?] • Taipei Times: “Activists Call for Release of Falun Gong Practitioners”

Sept. 28, 2009: Falun Gong News Bulletin

• FDIC: 53-year-old Woman Dies from Torture Six Days after Arrest • Cases of Two Elderly Falun Gong Practitioners in Danger Submitted to the United Nations for Urgent Appeal • Chinese Human Rights Defenders: Debarred Lawyer Tortured and Arrested in Northeastern China for Defending Falun Gong • FDIC: Attorneys Sue National Security Team in Wuhou for Denying them the Right to Meet their Falun Gong Client • The New Republic: “Hacking the Regime: How the Falun Gong empowered the Iranian uprising” • 23 Members of U.S. Congress Urge South Korean President Not to Deport Falun Gong Refugees to China • Taiwanese Falun Gong criticize Hong Kong court ruling • Italian MP Issues Statement Condemning the CCP's Persecution of Falun Gong