(Minghui.org) My brother, a fellow practitioner, was arrested and taken to a detention center a year ago. The authorities then tried to sentence him.
A few days after my brother was taken to the detention center, an inmate who was detained with my brother was released. He called me and gave me a detailed description of the miserable state that my brother was in, and said that my brother wanted me to pay the extortion money to get him out early.
The man told me that my brother was, “Emaciated, suffering and in poor health.”
After I put the phone down, I was very depressed and could barely sleep that night. In the morning I thought it over, and my mind gradually cleared up. I realized that this was a test for me. Even though my loved one was suffering, we could still turn a tribulation into something positive and save people.
I decided to hire a lawyer to defend my brother. He was detained in a town that we were unfamiliar with, and there were no practitioners there to help. The local officials made sure that the court was surrounded by police. Guards were stationed around the courthouse. In addition to heavily armed guards, they had a large number of their own staff posing as ordinary people. They participated as observers. We felt very isolated. When the trial began, they allowed only one family member to be present. That was me. Everyone else in the courtroom were their staff.
The scene was terrible and almost overwhelming. My brother is a steadfast practitioner. He told the court: “Whether you sentence me to seven years, or ten years, it doesn't matter! However, think about the crimes you are committing!” My brother was being persecuted, but he still considered others!
His lawyers also stated loud and clear that he was innocent from a legal standpoint, and was only exercising his right to practice his belief. While they presented their speeches, everyone present listened quietly. While the lawyers talked, the rest of the courtroom was completely silent. The public security personnel may have never heard the facts about Falun Gong before.
The case was later returned to the local police department, as there was “insufficient evidence.”
I realized that practitioners should never cooperate with the Chinese Communist Party, especially in paying extortion money. Our money is Dafa's resources, and should be used to save people.
Views expressed in this article represent the author's own opinions or understandings. All content published on this website are copyrighted by Minghui.org. Minghui will produce compilations of its online content regularly and on special occasions.
Category: Improving Oneself
