Ms. Li Yaru, 48, Heilongjiang

Name: Li Yaru (???)
Gender: Female
Age: 48
Occupation: Deputy Director of the Education Commission of Hanjiayuan Forest Bureau
Date of Most Recent Arrest: July 27, 2008
Date of Most Recent Release: Died in custody
Date of Death: July 20, 2011
Province: Heilongjiang
City: Harbin
Most Recent Place of Detention: Harbin Women’s Prison (???????)

Case Details:

A dedicated professional, Ms. Li Yaru was lauded as the best teacher in her school. Despite winning more votes than any other candidate for a promotion to principal, she was appointed a less prestigious position of Deputy Director of the Education Commission because she practiced Falun Gong.

On the evening of July 27, 2008, police broke into her home, confiscating computer equipment and other personal items. They then took her into custody and photographed her with Falun Gong books. Police claimed that they had monitored her for a year and recorded evidence of her talking to others about Falun Gong and symbolically withdrawing from the Chinese Communist Party.

Ms. Li was fired from her job and sentenced to three years in prison following a sham trial. Under pressure, her husband filed for a divorce. While in prison, Ms. Li developed Leukemia and quickly became extremely emaciated. She died before her scheduled release date.