(Minghui.org) A farmer in Jiamusi City was tried on September 20, 2017 for his belief after being illegally incarcerated for more than five months. The prosecutor at Huanan County Court frequently interrupted Mr. Liu Ziping when he mentioned his practice of Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline currently persecuted by the communist regime in China, during his defense statement. Mr. Liu’s lawyers argued that practicing Falun Gong is not against the law in China. The prosecutor asked to sentence Mr. Liu to four years. The hearing ended without the judge rendering a verdict.
Mr. Liu, in his 50s, looked emaciated in court after five months in detention. He denied the prosecution’s accusation that he used “a cult organization to undermine law enforcement.” He insisted that he was exercising his constitutional rights of freedom of belief and speech.
Mr. Liu credits his practice of Falun Gong with curing many of his illnesses. He was no longer hot-tempered and took good care of his parent. He quit his bad habits and was always there when his neighbors needed help.
In August 2015 Mr. Liu went to the police station in Huachuan County to inquire about the situations of two other practitioners arrested that day. As a result, the authorities detained him for 15 days.
In April 2017, officers in Mengjiagang Town arrested Mr. Liu while he was giving out Falun Gong literature to the locals. The authorities claimed that he had a criminal record in the past two years, referring to his 15-day detention in 2015. They hence indicted him with the charge of “undermining law enforcement using a cult organization.”
The two lawyers who represented Mr. Liu was hired by his family and fellow townsmen who believed that he was not guilty of the charge. During the hearing, the judge allowed the prosecutor to interrupt Mr. Liu and his lawyers during their defense. The prosecutor was also allowed to insult Mr. Liu and his faith in court.
