(Minghui.org) Three residents of Tieling, Liaoning Province were given three year sentences for distributing materials exposing the persecution of Falun Gong. They have all filed appeals.

Ms. Liu Yanfang, Ms. Xu Yajie, and Mr. Du Zhenjun were tried on April 17, about five months after their arrest for handing out Falun Gong informational materials. The Tieling County Court was heavily guarded, with the streets leading to the courthouse cordoned off. Besides four defense attorneys, only four family members were allowed to attend the trial.

The three practitioners' lawyers emphasized that it is legal to practice Falun Gong, as there has never been any law that criminalizes the practice. They pointed out that their clients should not be prosecuted for exercising their constitutional right to freedom of belief.

Ms. Xu testified against Tieling Domestic Security Office, whose agents subjected her to brutal torture. During an interrogation, she was suspended in the air for more than 20 minutes by a rope that tied her hands behind her back.

Torture illustration: Suspended in the air

The presiding judge Liu Yusheng adjourned the hearing without issuing a verdict. Eleven days later, the defense attorneys were notified of their clients' illegal sentence.

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Persons Responsible for Persecution

Liu Yusheng (刘雨生): presiding judge, Tieling Court, +86-13804106166 
Sun Jigang (孙继刚): director, 610 Office, +86-024-78833083
Gao Paul (高波): president, Tieling Court Criminal Tribunal, +86-16613804106
Yun Ping (云平): captain, Tieling Domestic Security Office, +86-13904105579; +86-024-74198727

Photo of Yun Ping (云平)