NEW YORK (FDI) -- Christina Yuan typifies what many would call the American dream -- humble beginnings, hard work, a Harvard education, a fulfilling life and a successful career in New York City.

Christina's mother, Ms. Benlan Yu, typifies an on-going nightmare in China -- stripped of all rights to freedom of speech and freedom of belief, horribly tortured by Chinese police, and sent to a forced labor camp without trial.

Christina, who has volunteered much of her free time over the last three years to seek a peaceful end to the violent persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China, now finds herself struggling to rescue her mother from that nightmare.

Christina is one of over 100 family members from more than 16 countries who are part of an international effort to rescue loved ones from persecution in China because of their practice of Falun Gong.

Humble and Happy Beginnings

Christina is a United States citizen, but was born in Central China in 1970. She grew up in a small one-bedroom apartment, and was mostly raised by her mother, who worked as a technician in a near-by hospital. "I remember my brother and I would play in the hallway, while mom sat in our dimly lit apartment sewing clothes for us," recalls Christina. "She made most of our clothes since we couldn't really afford to buy them."

In her childhood, Christina developed a great interest in calligraphy, traditional Chinese art and Chinese poetry, but after finishing High School Christina's talent for science led her to study applied physics at China's prestigious Tsinghua University -- often referred to as China's "MIT."

Mother and Daughter Begin Practicing Falun Gong

In April of 1996 while studying at Harvard a fellow classmate introduced her to an ancient Chinese exercise and meditation practice: Falun Gong (website). Christina was intrigued: "I was impressed with the simplicity yet profoundness of Falun Gong," she remembers.

Shortly after beginning the practice Christina quickly recovered from several chronic illnesses that had plagued her before. She also noticed becoming more productive at work and less stressed about life.

Christina became so interested in the practice that she traveled to China in 1997 to attend a Falun Gong Experience Sharing Conference in Changchun. While in China, she also went home to visit her mother, Benlan.

Immediately Benlan noticed a huge change in Christina. "Mom noticed that I was no longer short tempered and impatient with my family," recalls Christina. "She thought I was more tolerant and able to listen to others." Christina made such an impact on Benlan that she began the practice herself in the beginning of 1998.

Benlan had suffered from an old injury to her leg that made walking difficult for her. Shortly after starting the practice her leg healed and her walking became much better. Benlan also frequently commented how she looked and felt much younger after beginning the practice.

Peaceful Appeal, Administrative Detention and Forced Labor Camp

Immediately after Jiang Zemin launched the persecution of Falun Gong in July of 1999 (special report), Benlan went to the State Department Appeals Office in Beijing to voice her concerns. While she was there she saw several Falun Gong practitioners being arrested simply for trying to peacefully appeal.

A Living Hell

Benlan spent eight months in the labor camp.

While in detention she suffered severe mental and physical torture. Everyday she was forced to watch and read material that slandered Falun Gong. The rest of her time was spent doing hard labor with only five hours a night allotted for sleep. According to information Christina obtained from China, on many occasions Benlan suffered horrific forms of torture, such as being stripped naked and submerged in feces or sewage water for extended periods of time, shocked with electric shock batons, etc.

After being released Christina had the chance to speak with her mother on the phone. Their conversation, however, was very limited, as the police had tapped Benlan's phone. "From what I could discern, they drove her to the brink of what a human being can endure," says Christina. "The trauma was unimaginable."

Her mother told her that 69 people in the forced labor camp were Falun Gong practitioners, and that she had to call the labor camp every week and visit them once a month for the next 4 months.

Sentenced to Over Two Years Forced Labor Without Trial

After being released Benlan refused to give up her beliefs and continued to practice Falun Gong in the privacy of her own home. One day in September 2002 right before the mid-autumn festival, several policemen again came to her door. When she asked them if they had a warrant they replied no, so she refused to let them in. The police then forced their way into the apartment, ransacked her home and took her away. While going through her apartment they found Falun Gong books and tapes.

Benlan was taken to the public security bureau in Fang Shan County. There she was sentenced to two and a half years of hard labor and re-education simply for having Falun Gong related materials in her home. Since her sentencing her husband has only seen her once.

Determined, Peaceful Appeal

After the start of the persecution in July of 1999, Christina was followed and monitored by Chinese men she believes were from the New York City Chinese consulate. She has had her phone tampered with several times and received a number of threatening phone calls.

"They're afraid I'm going to tell the world what they're doing to my mother and tens of millions of people like her in China," says Christina. "They're afraid and they should be because I'm not afraid. I will tell the world what they are doing to my mother, and I believe, in the end justice will prevail."

Background

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa (about), is a practice of meditation and exercises with teachings based on the universal principle of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance." It is a practice that was taught in private for thousands of years before being made public in 1992 by Mr. Li Hongzhi. Falun Gong has roots in traditional Chinese culture, but it is distinct and separate from other practices such as the religions of Buddhism and Taoism. Since its introduction in 1992, it quickly spread by word of mouth throughout China, and is now practiced in over 50 countries.

With government estimates of as many as 100 million practicing Falun Gong, China's President Jiang Zemin outlawed the peaceful practice in July 1999 (report), fearful of anything touching the hearts and minds of more citizens than the Communist Party. Unable to crush the spirit of millions who had experienced improved health and positive life changes from Falun Gong, Jiang's regime has intensified its propaganda campaign to turn public opinion against the practice while quietly imprisoning, torturing and even murdering those who practice it.