(Clearwisdom.net) On October 15, 2009, the court of the Louqu District in Yueyang City, Hunan Province, began a "trial" of Falun Gong practitioners Mr. Xu Genyuan and Mr. Huang Youjun. Their attorneys defended them with a not-guilty plea.
Early that morning, Chief Zhang Jiehong of the 610 office in Yueyang City, led security guards and personnel of the community 610 office to surround the courthouse. Every person, who came to the court was recorded and their photos were taken secretly. When it was just a little past 8 o'clock, a long row of security personnel stood outside of the court entrance and prohibited any Falun Gong practitioner and others from going into the court and listen to the hearing.
More than a dozen family members of Mr. Xu Genyuan wanted to attend the court hearing but only three of them were allowed to enter.
During the hearing process, the attorneys of Mr. Xu Genyuan and Huang Youjun's defended their clients with a not-guilty plea. When the public prosecutor Li Weixing charged the two with "using a cult organization to undermine law enforcement," lawyer Mr. Zhang Chuanli from Beijing asked him to show concrete legal documents stating that "Falun Gong is a cult". This caused the prosecutor to become silent, while the judges and the national security officers looked at each other, dumbfounded.
Lawyer Mr. Jin Guanghong pointed out, "the defenders believe that the accused Mr. Xu Genyuan and other Falun Gong practitioners are law abiding citizens. Their practice of Falun Gong neither undermines the implementation of laws and administrative regulations, nor impedes any social, public and individual interests. On the contrary, the accused practitioners have obtained both physical and mental health from practicing Falun Gong, and upgraded their moral levels. Furthermore, it is a positive contribution to society that they have recommended Falun Gong to others. Meanwhile, it is well known that all Falun Gong practitioners have become more caring and helpful toward others. So, the behavior of the accused defendants is certainly not harmful to the society. In fact just the opposite: it is beneficial to the community."
"At the same time, the defenders advocate that religion can purify the human mind and soul, can raise people's moral levels. Religious doctrines encourage people to do good deeds and accumulate De (virtue), to abide by state laws and observe public order. This not only helps to create good citizens, but also favors social stability and harmony. In fact, Falun Gong practitioners are definitely the most stable factor to our society. The government should encourage rather than suppress these people's belief. It has trampled human rights that the government has convicted and punished citizens for their religious beliefs."
Both Mr. Xu Genyuan and Mr. Huang Youjun pleaded not guilty. They exposed the crimes of Jiang Chao, Fu Wei and others from the Louqu District and Junshan District;s National Security Brigades, who tortured and persecuted these practitioners. Mr. Xu showed the judges and jury the injuries inflicted upon him, such as wounds made by burning cigarettes, scars from being handcuffed and needle-sticks on his legs, arms and hands, and his head with most of his hair torn off by prison guards. Mr. Xu's family members voiced their indignation and resentment, and wrote a letter of complaint against the Yueyang Branch of the National Security Brigade.
Finally, the lawyers, the accused practitioners and their family members asked the court to declare a verdict that the defendants are not guilty, and to release them immediately. The judges admitted that Falun Gong practitioners were not guilty, then the court had to recess.
