(Minghui.org) Mr. Huang Lian was tried on April 14 for accusing former Chinese dictator Jiang Zemin of initiating the persecution of Falun Gong that resulted in his past detention.
His defense lawyer entered a not guilty plea for him, which is a first in Leizhou.
The lawyer emphasized that there is no law in China that criminalizes Falun Gong; hence the persecution has been illegal from the onset. As such, his client should never have been prosecuted for seeking justice against Jiang for infringing upon his right to freedom of belief.
The prosecution evidence included computers, printers, Falun Gong books and materials confiscated from Mr. Huang's home. The lawyer pointed out that these confiscated items were Mr. Huang's lawful possessions and caused no harm to anyone.
Mr. Huang's 20-year-old daughter testified on her father's behalf, who also emphasized that he broke no law by suing Jiang.
Mr. Huang remains captive at Leizhou City Detention Center following his arrest on December 5, 2015.
Background
In 1999, Jiang Zemin, as head of the Chinese Communist Party, overrode other Politburo standing committee members and launched the violent suppression of Falun Gong.
The persecution has led to the deaths of many Falun Gong practitioners over the past 17 years. More have been tortured for their belief and even killed for their organs. Jiang Zemin is directly responsible for the inception and continuation of the brutal persecution.
Under his personal direction, the Chinese Communist Party established an extralegal security organ, the “610 Office,” on June 10, 1999. The organization overrides police forces and the judicial system in carrying out Jiang's directive regarding Falun Gong: to ruin their reputations, cut off their financial resources, and destroy them physically.
Chinese law allows for citizens to be plaintiffs in criminal cases, and many practitioners are now exercising that right to file criminal complaints against the former dictator.
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