(Clearwisdom.net) Because they remained steadfast in their spiritual belief, Falun Gong practitioners Mr. Yang Hongjun and his wife, Wen Lan, were illegally sentenced to seven and three years of imprisonment respectively on July 22, 2011, by officials from Shunde District Court in Foshan City, Guangdong Province.

Mr. Yang Hongjun, 44, works as a post-doctorate teacher at the Life Science Institute of South China Normal University in Guangzhou City. Ms. Wen Lan, 39, works for a foreign-funded firm in the Shunde District in Foshan City.

Since they violated no laws, the couple pleaded not guilty during their trial and defended themselves based on the law. The judge nonetheless sentenced both of them and they both appealed. Foshan City Intermediate Court officials upheld the original verdict without holding a public hearing or notifying their family.

Mr. Yang was sent to Sihui City Prison in Guangdong Province on September 1. He is not allowed any family visits and the details of his situation are unknown. The wife was sent to Division 4 of the Baiyun District Women's Prison in Guangzhou City, and officials have been subjecting her to intensive brainwashing.

When the couple distributed DVDs containing facts related to Falun Gong on November 22, 2010, regime officials followed them and arrested them. The officials included He Hongbin (Daliang Police Station in Shunde District), an officer surnamed Wen, as well as agents from the Criminal Division and Domestic Security Division.

Without displaying a search warrant, the regime agents went to Ms. Wen's dorm in the Shunde District and confiscated her personal belongings, including two laptop computers, two cell phones, an MP3 player, an MP4 player, as well as other items. The agents also went to Mr. Yang's dorm in the university and took away a laptop computer and other personal properties.