(Minghui.org) The Huining County Court in Baiyin City, Gansu Province sentenced four Falun Gong practitioners, Mr. He Yuhu, Mr. Jin Yinwu, Ms. Han Xiufang, and Ms. Feng Caihong, to three years in prison on November 23, 2012, without notifying their attorneys or families. All four practitioners have appealed to the Baiyin Intermediate Court.

The four practitioners were arrested on September 24, 2011, by personnel from the Huining County Political and Legal Affairs Committee (PLAC), the 610 Office, and the National Security Bureau. They have been detained for over a year. During that time, the 610 Office forced the Procuratorate to accept the charges and trial records that the officials had fabricated.

The practitioners' families hired attorneys in Beijing to defend them and plead not-guilty. During the time that the Procuratorate was investigating, the Huining Procuratorate rejected the cases twice due to lack of evidence of any wrongdoing. The PLAC and the 610 Office director forced the Procuratorate to hand over the cases to the court and pressured the court. They also reported the attorney to the Beijing Justice Bureau, trying to stop him from helping the practitioners.

On February 28, 2012, the Huining Court put all four practitioners on trial. The authorities did their best to stop people from observing in the courtroom.

The attorney pointed out in court that there is no law in China that names Falun Gong as an “evil cult,” so practicing Falun Gong in China is completely legal, and persecuting Falun Gong is therefore illegal and against the constitution. The attorney also pointed out that the charge of “sabotaging law enforcement” could not be established. He stated that the practitioners never violated any law, and they should all be released.

In the end, another attorney asked the judges to make a just decision based on conscience, saying, "In the face of evil, if you remain silent, you are assisting the evil. If you sentence an innocent person, whatever the reason, it is a crime and is also against your conscience. So, judges, please respect the rights of citizens, accept your historical responsibilities, face your conscience, and based on the law, release the defendants with no charges.”

After such a reasonable defense, the public prosecutor did not know what to say, and the judges were silent as well. The judges quickly ended the trial.

Parties involved in the persecution:
Baiyin City Intermediate Court: +86-943-8268639
Secretary of the Baiyin Political and Legal Affairs Committee: +86-943-8241876
Baiyin City 610 Office: +86-943-82229169

Earlier report:
Ms. Han Xiufang and Other Practitioners Detained Illegally for Over a Year (http://en.minghui.org/html/articles/2012/12/16/136681.html)