(Clearwisdom.net) Mr. Song Aichang from Shijiazhuang City was illegally detained for 20 months before he was put on trial for a second time on February 17, 2009. In the beginning of the trial, Mr. Song had a grave look on his face. However, when he was taken away from the court, he looked relieved and full of righteous thoughts. This was because local practitioners had collectively sent forth righteous thoughts during the trial.
On the day of the trial, in spite of the freezing cold and chilling wind, most practitioners from Shijiazhuang City overcame various difficulties and went to the vicinity of the Qiaoxi Court to send forth righteous thoughts. Despite the cold, everyone kept on with no complaints, including practitioners in their 70's and 80's. It was every practitioner's righteous thoughts aimed at completely eliminating the evil that led to the trial's outcome.
During the trial, the prosecutor lacked evidence and was interrupted twice by the judge. A falsified statement by the city's national security team was eventually withdrawn by the prosecution team. Mr. Song's lawyers argued convincingly, and Mr. Song also utilized the opportunity to answer the judge's questions to clarify the truth about Falun Gong.
Mr. Song's lawyer Mr. Cheng emphasized three points in his argument, "The law does not state that practicing Falun Gong is a crime; the law does not state that distributing Falun Gong-related materials is a crime; and the law does not state that complaining about the persecution of Falun Gong is a crime." In his closing statement, Mr. Cheng said that Mr. Song Aichang has practiced Falun Gong for many years and his practice is based on his personal understandings and judgment. His moral standards and actions are praised by his colleagues and neighbors. However, such a model citizen has been detained with no valid charges or evidence and his detention has been prolonged without legal reason. Mr. Song is being penalized as a criminal by the government. Attorney Li further said that the validity of China's criminal law should be scrutinized, and a reform on the policy on religion is long overdue. He questioned if the government should force the criminal law on a defendant who has not been convicted yet. In this case, the law is not punishing a criminal, but rather a sincere, kind-hearted model citizen.
During the trial, several practitioners were able to enter the building and send forth righteous thoughts at a close distance. After the trial, Mr. Song's family and a few practitioners were able to briefly talk to him. Mr. Song's daughter had not seen him for over a year and held back tears during the trial. However, she couldn't hold back her tears anymore when she walked towards the entrance of the building and saw dozens of practitioners standing in the chilling wind, welcoming her and the others. Mr. Song held his hands together to salute his fellow practitioners while the police took him away in the car.
Although the trial is over, Mr. Song has not been acquitted or released. Fellow practitioners, please keep up with sending righteous thoughts until Mr. Song Aichang and all illegally detained mainland practitioners are released.