Niu Tengyu’s Mother: My Diary of Seeking Redress in Guangdong This Time (1): Report on Meeting My Son

On May 20, 2026, after traveling thousands of miles, I finally arrived in the city of Sihui, Guangdong. Before my son Niu Tengyu was wrongfully imprisoned, I had never been to this city. However, in the years since my son was framed and imprisoned by the Guangdong Political and Legal Affairs Commission, I have come here countless times.
The following afternoon, at 3 p.m. on the 21st, I saw the child I had been longing for, Niu Tengyu.

In the visiting room, as soon as Niu Tengyu saw me, he immediately greeted all the friends who had continually cared about him and followed his case. He said: “Please pass on my greetings to all the friends who are following me. Thank you all for your support over all this time!” At that moment, I felt both relieved and heartbroken. Although my child is in a difficult situation, he still cares about his friends outside, remaining strong and kind.

However, the atmosphere at the visit left me feeling extremely oppressed. Several fully armed, gun-carrying police officers stood beside Niu Tengyu. Their expressions were stern and their eyes fixed intently on us; it was obvious that this had been arranged in advance. The official in charge of Sihui Prison was relatively gentle and polite toward me personally, but the armed police officers beside my child made me instantly realize that this had very likely been deliberately arranged by the Guangdong Provincial Political and Legal Affairs Commission—specifically to create psychological pressure on me and try to frighten me and make me back down.

Seeing my child standing among a row of armed police officers, I felt a mixture of emotions: the joy of being reunited after a long separation, but even more, indescribable heartbreak and anger. I held back my tears, wanting only to convey all my love and strength to him and tell him that his mother would never give up.

After staying in Sihui for several days, I transferred to a trip to Guangzhou on Sunday the 24th. On the morning of the 25th, carrying a heart full of hope and grievances, I went to the Guangdong High People’s Court to seek redress and petition. Unexpectedly, as soon as I arrived near the court, I encountered blatant harassment and surveillance.

A police car suddenly drove slowly beside me, its police lights flashing continuously, as if deliberately trying to intimidate me. Before long, I noticed that a suspicious-looking man had been following behind me the entire time. He repeatedly covertly filmed me with his phone. Several times when I suddenly moved closer to him, he hurriedly sat down on a bench by the roadside, pretending to smoke as if nothing had happened, though his eyes kept darting about.

At that moment, I felt both furious and chilled to the heart. In China, at the entrance to what appears to be a solemn court, I am merely a mother who wants justice for her child, yet I have to face this kind of tracking and surveillance, as well as the atmosphere of terror they create through public power. Do they think this will make me back down? No, I will not. I will continue to move forward bravely—for my child, and for all the helpless mothers like me.

I will continue documenting the process of seeking redress. I hope more people will see these real experiences and join in paying attention and offering support.