(Minghui.org) Four Maoming City residents were sentenced to prison for refusing to renounce Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline being persecuted by the Chinese communist regime.

Ms. Ke Zhengji, Ms. Xie Yilan, Mr. Mai Zhizhong, and Ms. Li Xuming were arrested on November 19, 2015. They were tried on September 13, 2016, in the Maoming First Detention Center.

Ms. Xie Yilan

Mr. Ke Zhengji

Mr. Ke and Ms. Xie hired three lawyers, who entered not guilty pleas for their clients. The lawyers argued that no law in China criminalizes Falun Gong and their clients should never have been prosecuted for exercising their constitutional right to freedom of belief.

The lawyers also argued that Jiang Zemin, former Chinese dictator, should be held liable for initiating the persecution of Falun Gong.

Mr. Mai and Ms. Li’s lawyers entered guilty pleas for them, as well.

Mr. Mai was given 7 years, Mr. Ke 6 years, Ms. Xie 5 years, and Ms. Li 3 years. All of them have vowed to appeal the unjust sentences.

Related Report:Maoming City: Four Falun Gong Practitioners' Homes Raided, Ten Arrested