(Minghui.org) Seven Falun Gong practitioners in Heilongjiang Province were arrested for distributing informational materials about the communist regime's persecution of the spiritual practice.
On July 9, 2015, two security guards helped practitioner Mr. Lu Shubin into the courtroom because he could not stand or walk on his own due to injuries sustained from torture. The other practitioners also showed signs of torture while in detention.
Lawyer Li Xiongbing argued that the evidence used to charge his client was baseless. In particular, he pointed to a calligraphy painting of the Chinese character Fu (福), which means blessing. Around the Fu character were smaller characters for “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.”
He also pointed out that it was not illegal to practice Falun Gong, as China's Constitution guarantees citizens freedom of belief.
The lawyers pleaded not guilty on behalf of their clients.
Practitioner Ms. Li Meilian shared how she recovered from terminal leukemia after practicing Falun Gong. Practitioner Mr. Jiang Wenhua pointed out that in the video used as evidence for the prosecution, recipients of their paintings and other informational materials were happy.
The trial was held in the Suiyang Forestry Court of Dongning County, Mudanjiang City, Heilongjiang Province.
Heavy security around the courthouse blocked members of public from entering. Only one family member of practitioners was allowed inside the courtroom after they were thoroughly inspected.
In the morning, two of the defense lawyers were blocked from the courthouse until the other two lawyers petitioned for their entry.
The defendants include were Mr. Jiang Wenhua, Mr. Zhang Zhong, Mr. Lu Shubin, Mr. Zhao Jiakuan, Ms. Wang Xiuyan, Ms. Li Meilian and Ms. Liu Shiying. They are from Dongning County, Mudanjiang City, Heilongjiang Province.
All seven practitioners are still being held in a detention center owned by the Suiyang Forestry Police Department.
Perpetrators' Contact InformationWang Zhidong (王志东), chief of the Suiyang Forestry Political and Law Committee: +86-13351732377 (M), +86-453-3720805 (O)Mao Jiangsheng (毛江省), chief of the Suiyang Forestry Court: +86-15046310666 (Mobile)Xie Changcheng (谢长城), chief of the criminal court of Suiyang Forestry Court and judge in the trial: +86-13199383656 (Mobile), +86-453-845111, switch 743 (Office)Yao Hongyi (么洪义), chief of the Suiyang Forestry Police Department: +86-13836340267 (Mobile)Yang Xijun (杨锡军), chief of the Domestic Security Group of Suiyang Forestry: +86-13019058749 (Mobile), +86-453-3720283 (Home)Suiyang Forestry Detention Center：+86-453-3720301, switch 838 (Office)Sun Wensheng (孙文生), prosecutor of Suiyang Forestry Procuratorate: +86-13836320829 (Mobile)