Yao’s son emphasized that practicing one’s faith should not be considered a crime.
A Chinese exile residing in Japan is advocating for the release of his mother, who is currently detained in a Chinese detention center under Article 300 charges. This vague law, passed in China in October 1999, is used to justify the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners by the regime.
Yao Jiaxiu, a 70-year-old Falun Gong practitioner, was arrested on September 20 by the Xichang Public Security Bureau and is now held at the Xiaomiao Detention Center in Xichang City, Sichuan Province, as confirmed by her son, Gong Jinjun.
Gong expressed his concern, stating, “My mother is being unlawfully detained solely for her faith.”
At a human rights rally outside a government building in Tokyo on November 8, Gong urged the Japanese government and parliamentarians to push for his mother’s release from Chinese custody.
Following Yao’s detention, the Xichang Public Security Bureau issued a criminal detention notice to her family in China, citing Article 300.
The 2023 U.S. Department of State report on International Religious Freedom highlighted that while the Chinese constitution guarantees freedom of belief to its citizens, the protection for religious practice is limited to ‘normal religious activities,’ without a clear definition of ‘normal.’
The report also mentioned that the Chinese regime officially recognizes Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Protestantism, and Catholicism as religions, but regulations demand clergy to pledge allegiance to the CCP and socialism.
In September 2023, additional measures were introduced requiring religious activities to adhere to the leadership of the CCP and implement ‘Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics.’
Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a spiritual practice involving gentle exercises and moral teachings centered around truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance. It promotes aligning one’s life with these principles.
Falun Gong gained popularity in China in the late ’90s, but in July 1999, the then-CCP leader Jiang Zemin perceived it as a threat and initiated a severe crackdown on the practice.
Yao has been practicing Falun Gong since 1995, finding solace in the teachings after battling chronic illnesses. Her son recounted how her health improved significantly after embracing the practice.
Since the nationwide campaign against Falun Gong in 1999, Yao has faced multiple arrests, detention, and mistreatment at the hands of Chinese authorities who have attempted to coerce her into renouncing her faith without success.
She has endured various forms of torture, such as being bound in painful positions, hung from an iron door for extended periods, and subjected to beatings and electric shocks.
Gong expressed deep concern for his mother’s safety, especially as she has been detained once again. He emphasized that practicing one’s faith should never be deemed a criminal act and called for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China.
Zhang Yiwen contributed to this report.
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