Practitioner Protests Sentence for Promoting Traditional Chinese Culture

(Minghui.org) A 79-year-old woman from Changyi City, Shandong Province, was sentenced to three years in prison, plus four years of probation, in November 2014 for distributing Shen Yun Performing Arts DVDs in May.

Ms. Li Xueshu (李学淑) was arrested on May 15 and indicted on September 4. She was tried 12 days later in the Changyi City Court. The court sentenced her to prison on November 25, and she filed an appeal with the Weifang City Intermediate Court on December 5.

Ms. Li's Letter of Appeal

"Changyi City Procuratorate officials Ma Zhijun (马志军) and Yang Gongyi (杨功义), indicted me for 'sabotaging law enforcement using a cult organization' (Indictment No. [2014]332). Presiding Changyi Court judge Ming Yihua (明毅华) found me guilty based on a single piece of evidence--the free Shen Yun DVD. I was sentenced to three years in prison on November 25, 2014.

"Shen Yun Performing Arts gives hundreds of performances each year around the world. Through song and dance, Shen Yun promotes the essence of Chinese culture to audiences in many countries and opens their eyes to the beauty of our 5,000-year-old Chinese history. Part of the culture presented includes Falun Gong, a traditional Buddha school practice currently banned in China by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

"I wonder how giving out free DVDs that promote Chinese culture and history is 'sabotaging law enforcement?' Why is the CCP so opposed to the promotion of Chinese culture? Does the CCP worry that authentic Chinese culture might replace the nonsensical Party culture it has used to brainwash the Chinese people over the past 60 years? This is another example of the CCP's mind-control tactics.

"If I was sentenced to prison because of the Falun Gong content in the Shen Yun program and because I am a Falun Gong practitioner, I must protest: Practicing Falun Gong is my constitutional right. Articles 35 and 36 of China's Constitution say that citizens have freedom of speech and freedom of belief. That means I cannot be charged for practicing Falun Gong. I ask the presiding judge of Weifang City Intermediate Court to abide by the law and return a not-guilty verdict at my appeal trial.

"When they indicted me on the bogus charge and convicted me, the Changyi Procuratorate and Changyi Court committed the crime 'of unlawfully depriving citizens of their freedom of religious belief,' which is article 251 of the Criminal Law. Those involved in prosecuting me should be held criminally liable.

"I am almost 80 years old and completely healthy, thanks to my practice of Falun Gong. I have committed no crime in following the teachings of my belief. Moreover, a DVD of traditional Chinese culture should not lead to imprisonment. I ask the Weifang Middle Court to find me not guilty and clear my name.”

Parties Involved in Ms. Li's Most Recent Trial:

Changyi City ProcuratorateMa Zhijun (马志军) and Yang Gongyi (杨功义): [phone], [phone]

Changyi City Court: [phone], [phone], [phone]Ming Yihua (明毅华), leading judge, [phone]

Weifang City Middle Court: [phone], [phone], [phone]