(Minghui.org) Two Yuzhou residents were recently tried for distributing DVDs of Shen Yun Performing Arts shows and software for circumventing China's internet censorship.

Shen Yun's performances seek to revive traditional Chinese culture, which the Chinese Communist Party perceives as a threat to its ideology and had set out to destroy from the start of its reign.

The Chinese authorities have invested tremendous resources to target those who produce, distribute, or even watch DVDs of the internationally acclaimed Shen Yun performances.

Mr. Dang Fuqiang (党富强) and Mr. Zhang Zhende (张振德) were arrested on March 28 this year. Mr. Dang was captured while passing out Shen Yun DVDs, while Mr. Zhang was ambushed as soon as he walked out of his home. Police had been tapping the two practitioners' phones and following them for some time prior to the arrests.

Yuzhou City Court held a trial of the two practitioners on October 16, where public prosecutor Dong Zihua charged them with “using a cult organization to sabotage law enforcement,” a label commonly used by the regime to sentence Falun Gong practitioners as part of the nationwide persecution.

Defense lawyers Zhang Chuanli and Lan Zhixue pointed out that the National People's Congress, China's legislative body, has never enacted any law banning the practice of Falun Gong or labeling it a cult. Therefore, the persecution of Falun Gong was illegal from the very beginning.

Dong alleged that Shen Yun DVDs and firewall circumvention software amounted to “counter-revolutionary propaganda.” Acknowledging that Shen Yun's source of inspiration is the spiritual discipline of Falun Gong, the two lawyers challenged Dong to address why promoting performances of the classical Chinese dance company would be illegal.

Dong was rendered speechless. He was again at loss for words when Mr. Zhang and Mr. Lan questioned him on the alleged illegality of using software to access uncensored news, such as the persecution of Falun Gong.

Unable to prove the two practitioners' guilt, Dong turned to threaten the lawyers, “Are you promoting Falun Gong? Do you know the consequences?”

Mr. Lan responded, “It is our right and obligation to protect our clients during the defense. The constitution protects their right to have their own religious beliefs.”

Perpetrators involved in the case:

Prosecutor Dong Zihua (董自华): +86-13569978066 (Mobile), +86-374-8168169 (Office)Judge Li Pei (李培): +86-13937460463 (Mobile), +86-374-8351085 (Office), 86-374-8562219 (Office)