(Minghui.org) More than fifty Falun Gong practitioners were illegally arrested on July 6, 2012, by Mianyang City Police and personnel from the 610 Office, the Political and Legal Affairs Committee, and all police stations in the city, acting together. The homes of the practitioners were ransacked and their belongings taken. Six practitioners are still illegally detained at Mianyang City Detention Center.

On March 1, 2013, the Fucheng District Court tried the six Falun Gong practitioners, Sheng Mazi, Mu Shida, Li Shuangquan, Tang Ming, Ma Mingli, Ying Renbi and Dai Changchuan (Dai has now been released on bail). Mu Shida's and Li Shuangquan’s relatives hired lawyers to represent them separately, and enter not-guilty pleas on their behalf.

Since the prosecutors and judges could find no reasons to argue against their pleas, the trial was adjourned. This “trial” took place seven months ago, however the six practitioners are still being detained in the center. The court would not explain why they were still being held.

The families submitted their own "Withdrawal and Acquittal Applications" separately to Mianyang Political and Legal Affairs Committee, Fucheng District Court, Mianyang Procuratorate and other relevant law enforcement agencies on September 5 of this year.

Six weeks later, their relatives still hadn't received a response from any agencies. They requested to talk with them face to face about the applications, but were refused. Next, they went the Petition Office of the Fucheng District Court seeking help. The petition office staff claimed they cannot provide any help if the issue is related to Falun Gong.

Early on the morning of September 30, 2013, the practitioners' relatives stood before the court's gate, waiting to talk with the chief judge, Huang Jiemei. They were allowed to ask the judge a few questions by using the guard room's phone. Their families asked, “What is the court’s reply to our 'Withdrawal and Acquittal Applications' and to the illegally extended detention?” Chief Judge Huang Jieme's only reply was one short sentence, “The detention can be extended.” He then hung up.