(Minghui.org) Ms. Zhang Xiaoling and Ms. Li Yifeng were each sentenced to three years in prison on charges of using a cult to undermine law enforcement, a standard pretext used by the Chinese communist regime to frame Falun Gong practitioners. They have filed appeals.
During the trial on March 25, 2016, their lawyers, Mr. Zhang Zanning and Mr. Liu Zhengqing, both emphasized that the persecution of Falun Gong has been illegal from the beginning, as there has never been a law that criminalizes the practice. As such, their clients should have never been prosecuted for their faith.
The judge, however, proceeded to sentence Ms. Zhang and Ms. Li on fabricated evidence.
During the proceedings, Attorney Liu asked Ms. Zhang, “You are charged with using a cult to undermine law enforcement. Do you know which law you broke?” She replied, “I don't.”
Mr. Liu asked, “During the investigation, did anyone tell you exactly which law you broke?”
“No. I was only told that I broke the law. I have no idea which law,” replied Ms. Zhang.
One piece of evidence for the prosecution alleged that the two women went to a certain location and sent certain text messages on December 6, 2015.
Attorney Liu referred to this “evidence” during the trial, asking Ms. Li where she was on December 6 and 7, 2015. She answered, “I was at work.”
When Ms. Zhang was asked the same question, she said, “I stayed at home the whole day. I didn't go outside at all.”
The prosecutor also accused the two women of possessing Falun Gong materials, saying that was illegal.
Attorney Zhang pointed out that possessing such materials was not a crime. The Falun Gong materials they had were their lawful possessions and posed no threat or harm to anyone. The police who confiscated their materials were the ones who did something illegal.
Attorney Liu said that telling others about Falun Gong was totally unrelated to “using a cult to undermine law enforcement.” And no one could say exactly which law the two practitioners broke. He pointed out that it was Jiang Zemin and his 610 Office who are truly undermining law enforcement.
Judge Guo Hanlong appeared to be very angry and refused to let him continue.
The judge sentenced both Ms. Li Yifeng and Ms. Zhang Xiaoling to three years in prison on April 22, 2016.
Zeng Chengxi, director of the Chaoyang District Court: +86-754-83620368 (office), +86-754-88465412 (home), +86-13902730616 (cell)Ling Ping, director of the Shantou City Court: +86-754-88933012
(For more names, please refer to the Chinese version.)
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