(Clearwisdom.net) The Chinese Consulate in Chicago refused to renew Ms. Dongmei Wang and Mr. Jiyun Kuang's passports and withheld the passports simply because they are Falun Gong practitioners. On March 28, US lawyer Eric Ziegenhorn wrote to Consul Saipo Zhou requesting Chinese Consulate to reconsider the withholding of Falun Gong practitioners' passports to prevent the filing of a legal action.

Lawyer Ziegenhorn wrote in the letter: "I represent Dongmei Wang and Jiyun Kuang. As we discussed on March 23, 2004, they mailed their passports and all needed information and fees to your consulate to renew their passports. I'm advised that the normal processing time is less than two weeks; however, they still have not received their passports. They have apparently been told that their passports are being withheld because they are Falun Gong practitioners, and that they would need to renounce their continued practice of Falun Gong in order to receive their passports."

The lawyer said: "Please be advised that I have been instructed by my clients to pursue all available legal means to effectuate return of their passports. It does not appear that my clients' passports are being held for legitimate reasons, and I respectfully request that you reconsider your withholding of these passports, to prevent the necessity of other measures such as the filing of a legal action."

It is known that, up to date, the Chinese Consulate in Chicago is still withholding the passports. Ms. Wang called the Consulate on April 14. The answer was that the Consulate was waiting for instructions from China.