When Devotion Leads to Deportation
Leeds schoolboy, Alexander Rostron, has arrived back in the UK after being deported from Beijing for protesting against alleged human rights abuses against Falun Gong practitioners.
The 18-year old, middle class grammar schoolboy described his arrest and dedication to the spiritual practice, which has been outlawed in China.
"The police pulled my coat over my head to restrain my arms when I unfurled a banner in the Beijing’s ‘Forbidden City.’ They squeezed my throat to stop me shouting 'Falun Gong is good,'" he explained.
"I was taken into custody and all of my possessions were taken away. I resisted when they tried to take my photograph, so six police officers manhandled me until I stood still, then one of them hit me around the head with the back of his hand.
"I was put in a room with other Westerners who had been detained and the police brought in food and drink. A camera crew came in to film us, but we didn’t eat or drink anything."
