(Minghui.org) Two Falun Gong practitioners were recently sentenced to five and four years for publicly hanging banners related to Falun Gong.
The two practitioners, Ms. Yu Yueping (余月平) and Ms. Fu Xiaoyuan (付小圆), both in their 60s, were arrested on May 13, 2014 for hanging up banners in a park to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day, a holiday to commemorate the introduction of the practice to the public.
The police ransacked their homes and detained them at Zhangshu Detention Center for five months.
The trial took place on October 23, 2014 at Zhangshu City Court. Before the trial started at 9 am, armed police patrolled the area around the court. Everyone who wanted to enter the court had to register their IDs and go through strict security checks.
Staff from the 610 Office and Domestic Security Division were present in the courtroom, apparently giving instructions to the judge about the trial.
After Ms. Yu's lawyer presented a defense for her, both practitioners gave statements in their own defense.
Ms. Yu stated: “I used to have cancer, but it was healed by Falun Gong. I hope that others can benefit from the practice and enjoy good health like I do. I didn't break any law by practicing Falun Gong or following the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.”
The trial lasted six and a half hours. After the presiding judge announced the sentences, both practitioners' families objected strongly. Ms. Yu's brother and sister tried to talk to the court's president regarding her five-year sentence. Two armed police blocked them, and the president sneaked out.
