(Minghui.org) A woman from Tianjin was recently tried for practicing Falun Gong, a spiritual practice being persecuted by the Chinese communist regime.
Ms. Song Huichan was charged with using a cult organization to undermine law enforcement following her arrest nine months ago while babysitting her grandson.
During the trial on December 3, 2015, her lawyer Mr. Zhang pleaded not guilty on her behalf and rebutted the charges against her. He concluded that his client had broken no law and demanded her acquittal.
Lawyer's Rebuttal of Charges
Mr. Zhang first pointed out that it is Ms. Song's constitutional right to believe in Falun Gong. Moreover, there has never been any law that criminalizes Falun Gong, hence the persecution has lacked legal basis from the very beginning.
He also cast doubt on the prosecution evidence. The Falun Gong books and informational materials confiscated from Ms. Song's home are all things that advise people to be good and caused no harm to society or anyone, much less undermine law enforcement.
In concluding his defense, Mr. Zhang demanded his client be released unconditionally as she broke no law.
Family Dragged Out of Courtroom
Ms. Song's father couldn't hear clearly when the prosecutor read the charges against her at the beginning of the trial. He requested the prosecutor to speak a bit louder, but was dragged out of the courtroom. His younger daughter tried to intervened and was also roughly taken outside by court bailiffs.
The trial went on without Ms. Song's family present.
Ms. Song remains detained since her arrest in March 2015.
Partial list of parties involved in the persecution:Zhang Hongzhong (张洪忠), judge of Binhaixin District Court: +86-22-65270991Li Shengchun (李胜春), prosecutor of Tanggu District Procuratorate: +86-13820081606 (cell), +86-22-5861269 (office)Liu Hongsheng (刘洪胜), manager of Binhaixin District No. 1 Detention Center: +86-65300763
