Mrs. Wang Shaoping was arrested on August 6, 2017, for publicly raising awareness about the persecution of Falun Gong. She has been held in detention ever since.
Mrs. Wang’s neighbours in her hometown in Matuodian Township, Chanli County, Hebei Province, agreed to be interviewed on camera and make a public call for her release.
Mrs. Wang, her husband Mr. Zhou Zhencai, and their family practice Falun Gong and live by the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Over the years, she and her husband, their daughter, two sons, and two daughters-in-law have all been incarcerated in forced labor camps and prisons for refusing to give up their beliefs.
Their neighbours have seen how the family has suffered and have learned about Falun Gong from them. In light of the ongoing persecution of Falun Gong, they agreed to stand up and demand the release of their neighbor.
One person who was interviewed said, “She should be released if the law is fairly and correctly followed. I don’t think she is violating the law. She should not be detained.”
Another interviewee said, “She is a good person. Falun Dafa is good.”
“Her older son was arrested in the past. Her younger son was also arrested. Now she has been arrested,” said another. “She is in her 70s. Why would they arrest her? She must be released because it is hard for her elderly husband to take care of himself.”
“Her younger son was arrested. I signed a petition calling for his release. He is a good man,” said another interviewee.
“That family are good people. They do not deceive or cheat anybody. They get along with everyone.”
Whole Family Practices Falun Gong
Mrs. Wang had lower back pain in her 30s that only got worse along as she aged. She hurt from her waist to her thighs. She could not sit or lie down. She saw Chinese and Western doctors, but no one could help her. For several years, the only way she could sleep was to kneel down. She also had headaches and gynecological problems.
Mrs. Wang and her husband learned Falun Gong in 1996. All her ailments disappeared, and her husband’s health improved, too. Seeing the marvelous changes in their parents, their sons Zhou Xiangdang and Zhou Xiangyang started practicing Falun Gong.
The younger son, Zhou Xiangyang, was known to be kindhearted, not complaining even when others bullied him. He worked at the Third Railway Survey & Design Institute in Tianjin after graduating from Northern Jiaotong University.
His company rewarded him for his job well done by sending him to Tianjin University for further education.
He completed a degree in financial investment and became a quantitative surveyor. At that time there were only 60 quantitative surveyors nationwide. He was quick thinking, worked hard, and never competed for personal gain.
Among the young engineers, he received the most awards and bonuses, because he was so honest, reliable, and hard working. It is very easy in China to make a bit of extra money on projects, but he never took the offered bribes.
Family Persecuted for 18 Years
Out of jealousy, the former head of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) initiated the persecution of Falun Gong in 1999, and the whole family was targeted. During the past 18 years, they’ve only managed to spend New Year’s together four times.
The older son, Zhou Xiangdang, went to Beijing to speak out on behalf of Falun Gong in 1999. He was arrested and ended up in a forced labor camp for a year and a half. He was tortured and beaten.
He was sentenced to nine years in prison in 2001 and his wife was sentenced to three years. Their five-year-old son lived with his maternal grandmother and aunt. Mrs. Wang and her husband were forced to stay away from home. Their home was ransacked multiple times from 1999 to 2003.
Mrs. Wang and her husband were sent to a forced labor camp in September 2005 and were in poor health by the time they were released. They then tried to rescue their younger son and daughter-in-law. She visited her son and daughter-in-law incarcerated in Tianjin and Shijiazhuang for several years.
Mrs. Wang and her husband were arrested on August 6, 2017. The police ransacked their home and took Falun Gong materials and other personal belongings.
Her husband was released on bail because of his high blood pressure. Mrs. Wang is still being held in Qinhuangdao Detention Center. Her arrest was recently approved by the procuratorate.
Related Articles about Zhou Xiangyang and His Wife Li Shanshan:
- Tianjin Couple Given Prison Term for Their Faith, Vow to Appeal Unjust Sentence
- Mr. Zhou Xiangyang in Critical Condition–His Mother Calls for Justice
- A Young Couple’s Journey: Zhou Xiangyang’s Fiancee Appeals Seven Years for His Release
Related Article about the Wang Family:
Transcript of Interview
The first interviewee: “Xiangdang (Mrs. Wang’s older son) and Xiangyang (her younger son) were arrested before. Now she has been arrested. Her husband is in poor health and cannot hear well. The government should help the family and release her, so she can take care of her husband. This family are all good people. They do not deceive or cheat anybody and get along with everyone. Some people do not know Falun Gong. It would be great if they learn about it.”
The second interviewee: “This is a good family. Whatever the law, detaining her makes no sense. I want to say this. I don’t know how this issue will be resolved, I just want to speak out on this. Her neighbours, relatives, and everyone else should pay attention to this issue. She should be released if the law is fairly and correctly followed. I don’t think she has violated the law. She should not be detained.”
The third interviewee: “Mrs. Wang’s younger son was arrested that year. I signed a petition calling for his release. He is a good man. Mrs. Wang is in her 70s. Why has she been arrested? Her husband stays alone at home and cannot take care of himself. She should be released. She is a good person. Falun Gong is good.”
The fourth interviewee: “Mrs. Wang and her husband raised their children through many hardships. It is time for the children to take care of their parents. Unfortunately, their father is old and in poor health and has poor hearing. Their mother should be released! What is the point of detaining her? She is so old. How many more years can she live?”
(Clearwisdom)
