In correspondence sent to the Research Directorate, a representative of the Falun Dafa Association of Canada (FDAC) reported that she has "heard/read quite a number of stories [where] supporters, especially family members were persecuted due to their support to Falun Gong, or simply because they are family members" (28 Nov. 2003). According to the representative, these non-practitioners may be interrogated, arrested, beaten, removed from their jobs, demoted, or refused bonuses (FDAC 28 Nov. 2003). The representative provided the example of a well-known Chinese writer, Du Daobin, who is reportedly not a Falun Gong practitioner himself, but who published an article overseas calling for support to members of the Falun Gong and criticizing the Chinese government and police authorities for the torture and deaths of Falun Gong practitioners in their custody (ibid.; Clearwisdom 13 Aug. 2003). Du Daobin was arrested on 28 October 2003 on subversion charges because he publicly denounced the Chinese government's treatment of the Falun Gong, stated the representative (FDAC 28 Nov. 2003). Du Daobing's article is available on the Clearwisdom Website.

The Falun Dafa Association of Canada representative also stated that Huang Qi, a non-practitioner, was arrested on subversion charges on 3 June 2000 reportedly for posting articles on the Internet relating to the ill-treatment of Falun Gong members in China (ibid.).

A 10 May 2001 Wall Street Journal article posted on the Clearwisdom Website documents the plight of Zhang Xueling who was sentenced to three years without trial in a labor camp after she made repeated, unsuccessful attempts to have the police authorities confess to torturing to death her mother, a Falun Gong practitioner, and to issue a death certificate. Although initially a non-practitioner, Zhang Xueling eventually became a member of the Falun Gong (Wall Street Journal 10 May 2001).

With respect to foreign nationals, the Associated Press states that "western supporters of Falun Gong have repeatedly been arrested in China for demonstrating against the government, but they are usually held briefly and deported" (11 Mar. 2003). Moreover, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade warned Falun Gong practitioners and supporters that they could face arrest, deportation or detention if they travel to China (The Australian 25 Jan. 2003).

The following information pertains to family members of Falun Gong practitioners who are not practitioners themselves. The articles do not state whether the family members opposed the government's policy of labelling the group a cult or whether they encouraged others to learn about the Falun Gong. At a 2003 press conference in Canada, Wang Yuzhi, a Falun Gong practitioner, described the situation of his family members in China who, he alleges, have been abducted and arrested because of his involvement in the Falun Gong and his public statements against the Chinese administration:

Eventually, my brother Wang Chengyuan, 37, (non-practitioner) was illegally abducted on January 17, and his whereabouts are still unknown.

On March 19, my little sister Wang Yuxiang, 42, and elder sister Wang Chunyu, 48, were also illegally abducted. They are non-practitioners. The police illegally confiscated my little sister's home and took her away. Her two-year old and fifteen-year old sons cried a lot and asked the police to free their mother. However, the police roughly pushed the children aside without any humanity and drove away with my sister. When my elder sister was arrested, she said to her family, "I have not broken any law." There was no reason given for their arrests and their whereabouts are unknown (Clearwisdom 19 Apr. 2003).

For Wang Yuzhi's complete account, please refer to the Clearwisdom Website.

Another article describes the story of Ming Li, a Falun Gong practitioner, and her non-practicing daughter, who reportedly was detained several times by police because of her mother's involvement in the group (Clearwisdom 11 Nov. 2003). According to the mother's testimony, although she and her daughter were re-united in the United States in 2003, for the previous three years the police in Guangzhou City had refused to issue the daughter a passport because of Jiang Zemin's alleged policy that "'Falun Gong practitioner's relatives are not allowed to go abroad'" (ibid.). Please refer to the Clearwisdom Website for the complete story.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Associated Press. 11 March 2003. Christopher Bodeen. "U.S. Falun Gong Follower to Face Trial." http://www.fofg.org/news/news_story.php?doc_id=383 [Accessed 26 Nov. 2003]

The Australian. 25 January 2003. "Hunt for Aussie Missing in China." http://www.fofg.org/news/news_story.php?doc_id=296 [Accessed 26 Nov. 2003]

Clearwisdom.net. 11 November 2003. "Mother United with 7-Year-Old Daughter in New York After Three Years of Efforts." http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2003/11/12/42189.html [Accessed 27 Nov. 2003]

_____. 13 August 2003. Du Daobin. "Commentary: My Conscience Forbids Me to Keep Silent Any Longer." http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2003/8/14/39108.html [Accessed 27 Nov. 2003]

_____. 19 April 2003. Wang Yuzhi. "Statement of Wang Yuzhi at Press Conference at Parliament Hill: Retaliation and Coercion Cannot Shake My Determination to Expose the Evil Persecution." http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2003/4/19/34702.html [Accessed 27 Nov. 2003]

Falun Dafa Association of Canada (FDAC). 28 November 2003. Correspondence sent by a representative.

Wall Street Journal [New York]. 10 May 2001. "Daughter of Woman Featured in Pulitzer-Winning Article Sent to Labor Camp." http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2001/5/23/10297.html [Accessed 27 Nov. 2003]

Human Rights in China did not have information on this topic and the New York-based Falun Dafa Information Center was unable to compile the necessary information within the time constraints of this request.

IRB Databases

Internet sites, including:

Amnesty International

Center for Religious Freedom

China.org.cn

ChinaSite.com

Clear Harmony

Clearwisdom.net

Falun Dafa Information Center (New York)

Friends of Falun Gong USA

Human Rights in China

Human Rights Watch