Three Practitioners Illegally Tried after 14-Month Detention

(Minghui.org) Three practitioners from Chongqing were illegally tried on December 10, 2014, after being detained for 14 months.

The practitioners were charged under Article 300 of China's Criminal Law, “Using a cult organization to undermine law enforcement.” The communist regime routinely uses this law to arrest and imprison practitioners as part of its nationwide campaign to suppress Falun Gong.

The attorneys argued that Article 300 does not apply to Falun Gong practitioners and that practicing Falun Gong is not against the law. They also questioned the legitimacy of the evidence provided as well as the the public prosecutor's case filing procedure.

During their final statement, the attorneys said that Falun Gong practitioners are good people, that the persecution of Falun Gong violates basic human rights, and that the law has harmed society in general. The attorneys stated their hope for the judge and the prosecutor to see the truth and not to follow the Chinese Communist Party's persecution campaign.

Although the judge interrupted the attorneys a few times during their defense, he let them finish their statements. The audience listened quietly.

In the end, the judge announced that the verdict would be delivered on another day.

Only four family members were allowed to attend the trial. The rest of the seats in the courtroom were occupied by courthouse staff. Riot police stood guard outside of the courtroom.

Illegally Arrested

Ms. Zhao Shifang and her husband Mr. Zhou Changsheng, both from Longxi Town, Chongqing, own a barbershop.

On October 16, 2013, eight officers from the Longxi Town Domestic Security Department, Police Department and neighborhood committee broke into the couple’s home. They confiscated 300,000 yuan (~48,100 USD), which was the couple's entire savings over the past 20 years. Ms. Zhao and Mr. Zhou were handcuffed and taken to the Yiwanshui Detention Center. In desperation, their daughter hired two attorneys.

Another practitioner, Ms. Du Xueqin, was arrested at work the same day by officers from the Longxi Town Police Station and Domestic Security Division. She was taken to the Longxi Town Police Station and then transferred to the Yiwanshui Detention Center.

Perpetrators' Contact Information:

Zhou Chaoxiang (周朝祥), Yubei District Procuratorate deputy chief: [phone]Zhang Wei (张伟), prosecutor, Yubei District Procuratorate: [phone]Longxi Police Station: [phone], [phone]