Mr. Chu Zhaoding, 67, was a senior research scientist at the Institute of High Energy Physics, Shandong Province Academy of Science. His wife Ms. You Yufang, 61, was an engineer at the Jinan City Heavy-Duty Truck Manufacturer in Shandong Province. They lived in Jinan City, Shandong Province. After they started to practice Falun Gong in 1995, their health greatly improved.

In July 2000, the couple went to Beijing to appeal to the central government to stop the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. The police arrested them, moved them around from detention center to detention center, and finally escorted them back to Jinan City.

They were detained there for another three months prior to their release. While they were detained, the local authorities ransacked their home and confiscated their valuables. The local authorities also stopped their retirement benefits. Their total losses are estimated to be around 80,000 Yuan. They sent them to forced brainwashing several times. Once, the police stripped Mr. Chu, and shocked the most sensitive parts of his body with electrodes, until he was on the verge of death. When he was released, his entire body was covered with black and blue bruises.

During the first half of 2002, the couple left home and decided to remain homeless to avoid further persecution. On November 9, 2002, they were arrested again, detained for five months, and tortured. Each day they were only provided with half a stale bun, some rotten pickled radish, and some dirty water. They were not allowed to contact their families at all. They suffered tremendous mental and physical abuse. Their health was getting worse.

On April 17, 2003, the Tianqiao District Court in Jinan City sentenced this couple to eight years in prison because practicing of Falun Gong.