(Minghui.org) A Chenzhou City, Hunan Province, man was secretly tried for his faith in Falun Gong. He was not allowed to defend himself at the court hearing.
Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a spiritual discipline that has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999.
Mr. Lei Anxiang, 70, was tried by Beihu District Court on October 31, 2019, at 198 Hospital, where he has been held since his arrest on June 24, 2019, for raising awareness about the persecution of Falun Gong.
The prosecutor recommended a prison term of fewer than two years, but Judge Luo Hongrong said she was considering a term of longer than three years.
Mr. Lei's latest arrest was triggered by an out-of-province trip he made on April 24, 2019. That day, he traveled 80 miles to Lechang City, Guangdong Province to spread information about the persecution and urge the public to withdraw their memberships in the Communist Party. The police in Lechang arrested him and took him back to Chenzhou on the same day.
Mr. Lei was placed under house arrest for 18 days between April 24 and May 13, during which time he and his family were monitored around the clock by the police and staff members of the local residential committee.
The police arrested Mr. Lei on June 24 and took him straight to the hospital. They also harassed his family several times afterward and confiscated his Falun Gong books.
Mr. Lei credits Falun Gong for curing his lumbar spine enlargement, rheumatoid arthritis, back pain, and bronchitis. He said he used to swear at people and say things that hurt others' feelings. He realized his wrongdoing and changed after learning Falun Gong and living by its principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance.
Because he refused to give up his faith, however, the retired air conditioning production engineer has been repeatedly persecuted over the past 20 years. He was sent to forced labor camps twice and sentenced to prison for a total of eight years.
He once suffered five broken ribs and internal organ injuries after being beaten by police. Labor camp guards rolled a wooden club against his calf and twisted a pencil between his fingers until his bones were exposed.
Related reports:
After Years of Incarceration and Torture, Hunan Man Arrested for His Faith Again
Three Chenzhou Practitioners' Whereabouts Unknown
Wanhao Hotel in Chenzhou City Becomes Brainwashing Facility to Persecute Falun Gong Practitioners
The Persecution Experienced by Mr. Lei Anxiang Since 1999
Call for Rescuing Mr. Lei Anxiang, Who Was Illegally Sentenced by the CCP
