Falun Gong Practitioner Dies in Prison, Taiwan Theaters Receive Bomb Threats 

Dear Reader,

A new heart-wrenching case of a Falun Gong practitioner killed in custody emerged this month. The victim this time was 60-year-old Mr. Ren Changbin from Heilongjiang province.

After being unlawfully detained last September and then sentenced to three years in prison without due process, Mr. Ren was transferred to Shuangyashan prison. Although he had been in good health before his detention, five days after his transfer to the prison—on September 28, 2024—authorities called his sister to inform her that he had died suddenly. As usual, the details surrounding the incident are highly suspicious and have already garnered international attention, but more effort is needed to hold those responsible accountable.

Other stories in today’s newsletter include:

• Fake bomb threats called into theaters across Taiwan screening a new award-winning documentary on organ harvesting from prisoners of conscience in China

• Over 500 arrests and harassment cases reported by Minghui.org last month

• A Chinese American recalls the eye-opening experience of realizing how deeply deceived she was by Chinese Communist Party (CCP) propaganda even after moving to the United States

Lastly, on a lighter note, Falun Gong practitioners in the San Francisco Bay Area participated in a local parade, celebrating the beauty of Chinese culture, the Falun Gong story, and the diversity of the local community.

FEATURE STORY

What’s new?

On September 28, 60-year-old Falun Gong practitioner Mr. Ren Changbin (pictured), from Heilongjiang Province, had just been transferred to Shuangyashan Prison to serve a three-year sentence when prison staff contacted his sister, informing her that Mr. Ren had “accidentally died” and that his body had already been taken to a funeral home. Family members rushed to the funeral home, only to find Mr. Ren’s body covered in bruises and lesions. When they demanded answers, prison guards dubiously claimed that he had fallen in the shower. Bitter Winter, UCA News, and Minghui reported on the case.

Why does it matter?

Mr. Ren’s death adds to the more than 5,000 documented cases of Falun Gong practitioners who have died from torture and other abuses in custody since the CCP’s persecution of the spiritual practice began in 1999. His case highlights the urgent need for accountability and international attention to the ongoing atrocities and the horrific conditions faced by Falun Gong practitioners in China’s prisons.

What else do you need to know?

On the evening of September 14, 2023, Mr. Ren was arrested in a police sweep across Jiamusi City, Heilongjiang Province, targeting over 30 Falun Gong practitioners and their families. Security forces deceived Mr. Ren into opening his door before arresting him, then confiscated his Falun Gong books, informational materials, bank cards, cell phone, ID, and van—all without presenting a search warrant. During a sham trial on July 25, 2024, the Xiangyang District Court sentenced Mr. Ren to three years in prison. He was transferred to Shuangyashan Prison on September 23 and died just five days later.

TRANSNATIONAL REPRESSION

During screenings of the award-winning documentary State Organs in Taiwan, theaters in Taichung, Kaohsiung, Yilan, and Pingtung, along with a Taipei media outlet, received emails claiming bombs had been planted in the theaters and threatening to shoot audiences if the film was shown. The documentary exposes the CCP’s horrific practice of forced organ harvesting, a crime the Chinese regime has long tried to cover up and suppress discussion of abroad. These incidents are part of a broader global campaign, including similar email threats. Since March 2024, theaters hosting Shen Yun performances and the dance company’s training facilities have received comparable threats, aiming to prevent Shen Yun from performing. The threats appear to be an intimidation tactic, as no bombs have been found following law enforcement investigations.

PERSECUTION IN CHINA

In September 2024, the Minghui website reported 552 new cases of Falun Gong practitioners being arrested or harassed. Of these, 113 arrests and 175 harassment cases occurred in September, while the remaining incidents took place earlier in 2024. These cases spanned 28 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities across China, with Hebei, Jilin, Shandong, Sichuan, and Liaoning reporting the highest numbers. Practitioners whose ages are known ranged from 60 to 87 years old.

In Shanghai, Falun Gong practitioners experienced heightened surveillance leading up to China’s 75th National Day on October 1, marking the anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party’s rule. In one case, police informed a practitioner, Ms. Chen Ping, that she would be monitored between September 30 and October 7. These reports align with a decades-long trend of increasing surveillance of Falun Gong practitioners around politically sensitive dates.

In a poignant journey of discovery, Anne Yang, a young Chinese-American, recounts how she once firmly believed the Chinese regime’s distorted narratives on key historical events. From the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre to the ongoing persecution of Falun Gong, Yang’s writing reveals how Chinese propaganda shaped her understanding—even after moving to the United States. Her awakening came with painful clarity as she uncovered the truth behind the CCP’s disinformation campaigns, leading her to question her own role in perpetuating these falsehoods. Yang’s experience highlights the powerful reach of state propaganda, even beyond China’s borders.

On October 13, 2024, Falun Gong practitioners in San Francisco took part in a local parade celebrating Italian heritage. The practitioners were warmly welcomed by other participants and spectators, who were pleased to see so many joining in the festivities. One parade-goer remarked that the practitioners’ performances were outstanding and praised the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. He emphasized the importance of appreciating differences and living together with kindness.