Interior Designer Sentenced to Three Years for Practicing Falun Gong

(Minghui.org) A 39-year-old interior designer in Anshan City, Liaoning Province was recently sentenced to three years for practicing Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline that has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999.

Mr. Zhao Yubo

Mr. Zhao Yubo was working on a new design at home on September 21, 2022, when the police suddenly broke in and arrested him. His work computer, a broken printer, Falun Gong books, his ID, cellphone, $6,400 USD, 18,000 yuan, and other personal belongings were confiscated. The police also forced Mr. Zhao to hold some of the cash in his hands and then took pictures of him. They held him at the police station for two days, without giving him any food or water, before transferring him to the Xiuyan Detention Center. 

Mr. Zhao appeared in the Lishan District Court on March 28, 2023. His father attended the hearing as his family defender. He requested prosecutor Xiang Shi of the Lishan District Procuratorate to exhibit the prosecution evidence in court, including the Falun Gong books and other materials confiscated from Mr. Zhao. Judge Wang Tiejie said the items weren’t available.

As prosecutor Xiang charged Mr. Zhao with “undermining law enforcement with a cult organization,” his father asked Xiang to explain what was Mr. Zhao’s alleged role in the so-called cult organization, how he allegedly undermined law enforcement, and what evidence there was to show he caused any harm. Mr. Zhao’s father also pressed Xiang to provide the legal basis for identifying Falun Gong as a cult. Xiang remained silent.

Mr. Zhao’s family recently confirmed that he has been sentenced to three years. It’s not clear whether he has been admitted to prison at the time of writing.

Related reports:

Interior Designer Stands Trial for Practicing Falun Gong

Forced to Drop Out of School at 17, Self-taught Interior Designer Arrested for His Faith