(Minghui.org) Many Falun Gong practitioners are now exercising their legal right to sue Jiang Zemin for launching the persecution of Falun Gong and causing them great harm and tremendous suffering during the past 16 years. The momentum of this new wave of lawsuits against the former Chinese dictator is on the rise.

The Minghui website receives copies of criminal complaints against Jiang from many practitioners daily. In this report, we present a snapshot of some of the practitioners whose lawsuits were received by Minghui on October 8, 2015.

These lawsuits are mailed to the Supreme People's Court and Supreme People's Procuratorate, which are required to process all criminal complaints filed by citizens, as of a recent ruling by the Supreme People's Court.

1: Mr. Ma Xunde (马勋德) and Wife Ms. Zheng Fengying (郑凤英)

Profession: Mr. Ma is an engineer, and his wife was a former employee at the Wuzhong Instrument Factory.Hometown: Wuzhong City, Ningxia Autonomous RegionDate filed: August 24, 2015

Key FactsSince the persecution started in 1999, the couple was arrested and detained in various detention centers, drug rehabilitation centers, and brainwashing centers. They were also sent to labor camp once and jail twice, for a total of 12.5 years for Mr. Ma and 10 years for Ms. Zheng.

The couple was arrested in October 20, 2000 for distributing Falun Gong fliers on the streets. Their house was ransacked, and they were detained at a drug rehabilitation center.

One month into their detention, Ms. Zheng's feet ulcerated and her toes began to seep pus and blood. The guards released her after her toes became extremely swollen. Mr. Ma developed kidney stones and rolled on the floor in pain. The guards were afraid he would die and rushed him to the hospital. He returned home one week later.

Current CircumstancesMr. Ma and Ms. Zheng are currently serving jail terms of 7.5 years and 7 years respectively. During one of their numerous arrests, Ms. Zheng's brother and her niece were also arrested along with the couple, and released after 37 days.

Related ReportsThe Persecution of Ms. Zheng Fengying and Her Husband Over the Past DecadePractitioner Couple Mr. Ma Xunde and Ms. Zheng Fengying ArrestedMs. Zheng Fengying from Ningxia Secretly Sentenced to Seven Years in PrisonWuzhong City: Husband and Wife Secretly Sentenced by the Chinese Regime

Details of complaint in Chinese language

2: Mr. Liu Zhenming (刘振明)

Profession: Deputy PrincipalHometown: Taian City, Shandong ProvinceDate filed: July 26, 2015

Key FactsMr. Liu was arrested and detained at least five times. He was subjected to sleep deprivation, food deprivation, and beatings for refusing to renounce his beliefs. As a result of the detention, he was fired from his job as an assistant principal and teacher.

Mr. Liu was arrested in October 2003 and sent to labor camp for three years. He was tied to a bed for 11 days and later forced to sit on a small stool, which severely affected the circulation in his legs. He was also beaten almost every day. He developed severe headaches soon after, and was released for treatment.

After his early release, the workplace allowed him to work as an administrator and janitor, but paid him very little. This resulted in his wife divorcing him.

Current CircumstancesMr. Liu was last arrested in 2010 and sent to a labor camp for one year and nine months. He developed a brain infarction due to torture, and was released home.

Related ReportsPolice Extract Confessions by Torture from Educator Liu ZhenmingDetails of complaint in Chinese language

Background

In 1999, Jiang Zemin, as head of the Chinese Communist Party, overrode other Politburo standing committee members and launched the violent suppression of Falun Gong.

The persecution has led to the deaths of many Falun Gong practitioners in the past 16 years. More have been tortured for their belief and even killed for their organs. Jiang Zemin is directly responsible for the inception and continuation of the brutal persecution.

Under his personal direction, the Chinese Communist Party established an extralegal security organ, the “610 Office,” on June 10, 1999. The organization overrides police forces and the judicial system in carrying out Jiang's directive regarding Falun Gong: to ruin their reputations, cut off their financial resources, and destroy them physically.

Chinese law allows for citizens to be plaintiffs in criminal cases, and many practitioners are now exercising that right to file criminal complaints against the former dictator.