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Individual Cases of Falun Gong Deaths
Large numbers of Chinese citizens detained for practicing Falun Gong continue to die because of brutality suffered at police stations, labor camps, and prisons across China.
On average, a new case of a Falun Gong practitioner dying due to abuse is reported every three days.
In total, since 1999, over 3,400 cases have been documented of Falun Gong practitioners who have died as a result of various forms of persecution.
These confirmed deaths occurred in virtually every one of China's provinces, autonomous regions, and province-level municipalities. Though already reflecting large-scale abuses, these documented cases are only the tip of the iceberg. They are the stories that, thanks to the courage and technical knowledge of the victims’ acquaintances, succeeded in slipping through the veil of secrecy and censorship that envelops Falun Gong deaths.
On this and the following pages, the Falun Dafa Information Center has begun posting the cases of Falun Gong practitioners whose deaths have been documented over the past decade.
The descriptions accompanying each individual case have been compiled from a variety of sources, including testimony of relatives or friends of the deceased, photographic evidence, and follow-up phone calls made by researchers to the relevant police or prison authorities. Several cases also draw on reporting by international media, the United Nations, and human rights groups. Due to the difficulties inherent in investigating Falun Gong cases, details for some cases may be not be fully available.
None of the individuals whose stories are relayed here committed any “crime” or engaged in any violent acts. Rather, they sought only to peacefully pursue the spiritual path of their choice.
Additional resources:
- Tortured to Death (photo gallery): Profiles of individuals killed by the Chinese authorities simply for standing by their faith in Falun Gong
- Calendar year 2007 (list / analytical summary)
- Calendar year 2008 (list / analytical summary)
- Calendar year 2009 (list / analytical summary)
- Death distribution by gender
- Death distribution by province
- Death distribution by age
- Cumulative death distribution by year
2009/10/31
Mr. Wang Gang, 41, Hebei
After being unlawfully detained in 2003 for practicing Falun Gong, Mr. Wang Gang was “sentenced” to 10 years in prison in 2004 following a sham trial. After being forced to remain stationary with his feet shackled causing limited blood circulation, the health of Wang’s right leg deteriorated and had to be amputated immediately upon his release from solitary confinement. He was finally released on October 14, 2009. Mr. Wang died at 10 p.m. on October 31, 2009. He was 41 years old.