(Minghui.org) A Dezhou City resident sentenced for her faith vows to fight for her constitutional right to practice and spread information about Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline being persecuted by the Chinese communist regime.
Ms. Wang Yanzhi, 60, was arrested at home on May 22, 2016, after being reported for distributing Falun Gong materials the day before. She refused to be taken away, and five officers dragged her all the way to the police station. For the next seven days, she had to remain in bed because she had trouble standing and often felt dizzy.
The detention center twice declined Ms. Wang’s lawyer’s request to meet with her. The local court appointed a lawyer, who was instructed to enter a guilty plea on her behalf. Ms. Wang objected but was forcibly carried to the courthouse on November 22 to face trial. Her chest was severely injured during her struggle.
Ms. Wang had to be rushed to the emergency room three days after her court appearance. She was diagnosed with heart disease, inflammation of both lungs, pleurisy in both lungs, and cardiac anxiety disorder. The court rejected the detention center’s request for medical parole and sentenced her to four years in prison on December 8.
Ms. Wang’s own lawyer visited Dezhou City Intermediate Court on January 19, 2017, and submitted his application to legally represent her in the appeal process. He met with her at the detention center shortly afterward and noted that she was emaciated.
The lawyer mailed to the court a written request for an open hearing on January 26. He visited the court again on February 15 to submit his defense arguments. Judge Xu Wanbiao said that his decision on whether to grant a hearing would depend on how the defense arguments were written.
The lawyer met with Ms. Wang later that day. She expressed her determination to seek justice.
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