(Minghui.org) Six Dazhu County, Sichuan Province, residents stood trial on November 5, 2020, for their faith in Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline that has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999.
Five of them—Mr. Wang Haiqian, 57; Mr. Deng Mingzhi, 54; Ms. He Dacui, 69; Ms. Zheng Dongfen, 53; and Ms. Lu Zhengmin—were targeted in a group arrest on July 27, 2019.
The sixth, Mr. Tang Zhikai, 70, was arrested on August 28, 2019, after the police followed him. All three of his residences were ransacked. His printer, media player, and cash were confiscated.
The three men were held in the Dazhu County Court while the women were taken to Dazhou City Detention Center.
On November 5, 2020, all six were tried in the Dazhu County Court in the makeshift courtroom in the Dazhu County Detention Center. They had to wear thick protective gear with face coverings. Only their eyes were visible. Each practitioner was allowed to have only one immediate family member watch the video of the hearing after applying for the permit from the court. The authorities posted officials outside of the courthouse to be on the lookout for local Falun Gong practitioners who came to show their support for the practitioners on trial.
Ms. He, who was unable to stand on her own, had to have guards help her into the room. She had a bad cough.
The hearing lasted from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Three lawyers entered not guilty pleas for their clients and demanded that they be acquitted. The judge adjourned the hearing without handing down a verdict.
Related report:
Dazhu County, Sichuan Province: 26 Falun Gong Practitioners Arrested in One Day, 5 Remain in Custody
