(Minghui.org) A Dalian City resident was tried two days after her son, a resident of Washington, D.C., called for her unconditional release in front of the Chinese Embassy. Some of her supporters were also arrested for trying to attend her trial in Dalian.
Ms. Yuan Xiaoman was seized from home on May 12, 2016 for filing a criminal complaint against former Chinese dictator Jiang Zemin for ordering the persecution of Falun Gong that resulted in her family’s ordeal.
Ms. Yuan, her husband, and their son practice Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline based on the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. The couple had been repeatedly arrested and tortured for their faith since the persecution began in 1999. Their son, Mr. Du Haipeng, later moved to the U.S. to escape the persecution.
Ms. Yuan’s latest arrest sent a chill down her son’s spine, “I couldn't believe it when I heard that my mother was arrested,” said Mr. Du. “She has not violated any law.”
While Mr. Du is seeking his mother’s release, he is also worried about his father, whom the police have threatened to arrest again.
Groundless Charges and Questionable Evidence
During the trial on November 16, the prosecutor charged Ms. Yuan with using a cult to undermine law enforcement, a standard pretext used by the Chinese communist regime in its attempt to frame and imprison Falun Gong practitioners.
Both Ms. Yuan and her lawyer argued that no law in China criminalizes Falun Gong and that she should never have been prosecuted for her faith.
The prosecution evidence included Falun Gong books and other informational materials confiscated from her home. The lawyer argued that those items were his client’s lawful possessions and caused no harm to anyone or society at large, let alone “undermine law enforcement.”
The lawyer also pointed out a suspicious piece of evidence included in the indictment. The prosecutor listed an eyewitness who testified against someone other than Ms. Yuan, but the interrogating officer crossed out that defendant's name and replaced it with Ms. Yuan’s. In addition, there was no fingerprint of the said eyewitness as required by law.
The lawyer thus demanded an acquittal of his client. The judge adjourned the hearing without issuing a verdict.
Supporters Arrested
Ms. Sun Guiling, a local Falun Gong practitioner who came to attend the trial, was seized at a bus station about 200 meters away from the courthouse. She was handcuffed to a chair for nearly two hours.
Her husband was driven away while trying to argue with the police that his wife had broken no law. He next went to the Domestic Security Office, but was sent back to the police station. This time he refused to leave until the police relented and released his wife hours later.
In addition to Ms. Sun, three other practitioners were also known to have been arrested. A woman in her 40's refused to disclose her name, and her whereabouts are unclear.
Ms. Zang Lianmei and Ms. Wang Ling were deceived by the bailiffs and turned in their IDs in order to attend the trial. The police tracked them down and arrested them not long after the hearing concluded. Their homes were also ransacked.
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