(Minghui.org) A Gong’an County, Hubei Province, man stood trial on November 22, 2019, for refusing to give up his faith in Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline that has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999.

Mr. Li Yuehu

Two lawyers entered a “not guilty” plea on Mr. Li Yuehu's behalf. He also testified in his own defense.

Mr. Li, a vegetable vendor, was arrested on July 11, 2019, after the police found Falun Gong materials on him. He was detained on criminal charges on July 22 and has been held in the Gong’an County Detention Center ever since. 

The Gong’an County Procuratorate approved the 50-year-old man's arrest on August 1 and indicted him on September 6, charged with “undermining law enforcement with a cult organization,” a standard pretext used by the communist authorities to frame and imprison Falun Gong practitioners. 

The Gong’an County Court accepted Mr. Li’s case on September 9. The judge initially scheduled his hearing for October 16 but later canceled it.

The judge didn’t inform Mr. Li of his rescheduled hearing until it was time for him to be taken from the detention center to the courthouse on November 22. 

His lawyers demanded that their client's handcuffs and shackles be removed at the beginning of the hearing. The judge agreed. 

His lawyers argued that no evidence demonstrated how Mr. Li undermined the enforcement of any law.

The prosecutor replied, “The government has already decided on this, we don’t need to discuss it.” 

Mr. Li argued that there is no law that says practicing Falun Gong is a crime and that the Chinese publication bureau lifted the ban on Falun Gong books in 2011. Consequently, he shouldn’t be prosecuted for owning or distributing Falun Gong materials.

The prosecutor accused Mr. Li of handing out 204 copies of Falun Gong materials to pedestrians around 10 p.m. Mr. Li asked how it would have been possible for him to do that when he was riding a motorcycle at normal speed, at night, and there were not many people around? 

The prosecutor alleged that witnesses recognized Mr. Li from a lineup of 12 photos, but none of the witnesses was present to be cross-examined.

Mr. Li said that he did have 102 copies of Falun Gong materials, but the number was changed to more than 600 in the indictment. 

Only Mr. Li’s mother, in her 80s; his aunt; and brother were allowed to attend his hearing in a 200-seat gallery.

Mr. Li refused to sign the court proceedings.

Police outside of the courthouse on the day of Mr. Li’s hearing

Mr. Li’s mother

Related report:

Hubei Man Who Voluntarily Repairs Village Road Arrested for His Faith in Falun Gong