(Minghui.org) A 71-year-old Handan City, Hebei Province resident stood trial on February 28, 2023 for practicing Falun Gong, a mind-body discipline that has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999.

Mr. Ji Ruiling was arrested on July 18, 2022 during a police sweep. The police submitted his case to the Feixiang District Procuratorate in November 2022. 

On February 27, 2023, Mr. Ji’s family received a call from one of his lawyers who informed them of his hearing at the Feixiang District Court the next day. The lawyer said he had just received notification from the presiding judge, Liu Yanfeng, before he called the family. Liu never informed Mr. Ji’s family of the hearing.

When Mr. Ji’s family and his two lawyers arrived at the court the next morning, the judge suddenly told them that the hearing had been changed to the Fuxing District Court, about 30 miles away. 

After the family finally arrived at the Fuxing District Court, the judge announced that only two of Mr. Ji’s family members were allowed to attend the session. Mr. Ji’s lawyers strongly demanded that the judge add one more slot, but to no avail.

The judge questioned Mr. Ji as to whether he agreed with the charge against him, namely, “undermining law enforcement with a cult organization,” the standard pretext used to frame Falun Gong practitioners. Mr. Ji responded that he hadn't violated any law or undermined any law enforcement. He said he merely wanted to be a good person by practicing Falun Gong and he never harmed anyone or anything by practicing his faith.

Prior to his latest ordeal, Mr. Ji was previously sentenced to three years in 2010 for practicing Falun Gong. 

Related reports:

Mr. Ji Ruiling and Ms. Ji Junyun from Handan City, Hebei Province Sentenced and their Family Cheated out of a Lot of Money

Police in Handan City Arrest Mr. Ji Ruiling and His Sister Ms. Ji Junyun and Extort Large Sum of Money from Family