(Minghui.org) Two residents of Qinhuangdao City, Hebei Province, stood trial on April 11, 2024, for their shared faith in Falun Gong, a mind-body practice that has been persecuted by the Chinese Communist Party since July 1999.
Ms. Liang Jun, a 49-year-old single mom, and Ms. Hong Yanrong, a 71-year-old retired pharmacist, were both arrested on July 14, 2023. Together with their respective lawyers, they attended a pre-trial meeting held at the Funing District Court on January 10, 2024. The lawyers refuted the questionable prosecution evidence at the meeting but it was unclear whether the judge allowed the prosecutor to present the inadmissible evidence during the court hearing on April 11, 2024.
Ms. Liang’s daughter, a college student, represented her as a non-lawyer family defender. Ms. Hong was not allowed to read her defense statement, as the judge claimed that there was no more time left (the hearing ran from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with a one-hour lunch break).
While other details of the hearing itself remain to be investigated, the Minghui website learned from eyewitnesses that the courthouse was heavily guarded during the hearing.
Tight Security
The police blocked the major roads leading to the courthouse. Two black police cruisers with SWAT written on them and officers inside were seen parked outside during the entire court hearing. Facing the courthouse was a third black car filled with agents.
Two traffic officers stood at a nearby interaction with their car parked next to them. A plainclothes officer in his 20s was seen patrolling outside.
In the afternoon, a car with “propaganda” printed on it came. It stayed there until a police car pulled up to take over.
During the lunch break, more than ten people filed out of the courthouse and went to the restaurant across the street. One of them was officer Han Feng from the Haigang District Domestic Security Division. They were heard saying their boss (identity unknown) was also attending the trial.
While Ms. Liang and Ms. Hong were arrested in Funing District, their home district of Haigang has been working with Funing to get them prosecuted.
For details of the two women’s arrests and pre-trial meetings, see the related reports below.
Related Reports:
Qinhuangdao City, Hebei Province: First Pre-Trial Meeting Granted in Falun Gong Cases
Single Mom Beaten by Police, Elderly Mother Given Runaround Trying to Seek Her Release
Single Mom Detained for 8 Months and Counting, Facing Trial for Her Faith in Falun Gong
Single Mom Faces Indictment for Her Faith—Daughter Calls for Her Release
78-Year-Old Stands Trial for Her Faith with No Legal Representation
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