(Minghui.org) The Jialing District Court in Nanchong City, Sichuan Province, held a second hearing of a local woman’s case on July 27, 2026. She was arrested because she practices Falun Gong.
Ms. Zhang Xiuzhen, 60, was arrested on December 28, 2025, while distributing Falun Gong informational materials. She was issued a formal arrest warrant by the Jialing District Procuratorate, and her case was forwarded to the Jialing District Court on April 1, 2026.
Ms. Zhang first appeared in court on May 12, 2026. The presiding judge, Qin Wenling, stopped her when she recounted how she recovered from colon cancer after taking up Falun Gong in 2007. She was not allowed to say anything else.
Her lawyer pointed out that the Jialing District Police Department, which was responsible for Ms. Zhang’s arrest, and its supervising agency, the Nanchong City Police Department, were not qualified to verify that the informational materials she distributed were promoting a cult. By law, only an independent, third-party agency is authorized to examine and authenticate prosecution evidence.
Prosecutor Han Yong cited the over 200 copies of informational materials seized as evidence against Ms. Zhang. Her lawyer pointed out that the materials were her lawful possessions and did not cause harm to society.
Han showed a police surveillance video, but the footage did not show Ms. Zhang doing anything illegal. Her lawyer thus demanded she be acquitted. Judge Qin adjourned the session.
A second hearing was held on July 27, 2026. Two of Ms. Zhang’s family members were present to support her. This time she was able to testify in her own defense. She emphasized that she broke no law in practicing Falun Gong or spreading information about it because no law in China criminalizes Falun Gong.
Her lawyer concurred. He added that she didn’t cause any harm to any individual or society at large and that she should not be prosecuted for exercising her constitutional right to freedom of belief. He also reiterated other key defense points he presented during the first hearing and demanded his client’s acquittal.
Ms. Zhang is currently held in cell 0404 at the Jialing District Supervision Center. It is unclear when a verdict will be issued.
Prior to this latest persecution, Ms. Zhang was previously arrested multiple times and served two prison terms totaling three and a half years. Her pension was also suspended in July 2018. Her husband was unable to cope and divorced her. See the first related report for details of her past persecution.
60-Year-Old Sichuan Woman Barred From Testifying in Her Own Defense During Trial
Twice Jailed for Her Faith, 60-Year-Old Sichuan Woman Faces Trial Again