(Minghui.org) The court was adjourned after Ms. Yang Muhua's lawyer pointed out that the lawsuit itself was illegal since the prosecutor was unable to present any legal evidence.
The Anning City Court in Yunnan Province tried Falun Gong practitioner Ms. Yang Muhua on March 6, 2014 for distributing Shen Yun Performing Arts DVDs. Ms. Yang declared her innocence, reasoning that the Shen Yun program promotes traditional Chinese culture. Her defense lawyer also pointed out that a stable society needs good citizens like practitioners.
Tried in Court
Police from the Anning Domestic Security Division, including director Ye Lin arrested Ms. Yang at her home on May 26, 2013, for distributing Shen Yun DVDs.
The Anning City Court held the first trial on November 27, 2013. However, the prosecutor was not the one named in the court documents. Once the defense lawyer pointed it out, the trial was adjourned.
When the trial was resumed on March 6, 2014, Ms. Yang testified about the benefits she experienced from practicing Falun Gong. She said that she returned to good health and let go of her bad temper after practicing Falun Gong. She worked more diligently at work and was praised by her managers.
She also defended her innocence. She said that she distributed Shen Yun DVDs because they depict traditional Chinese culture.
A Stable Society Needs Good Citizens Like Practitioners
Li Yonghong, the prosecutor, claimed that Falun Gong is prohibited in China. The defense lawyer pointed out that this was untrue and his claim was not based on existing Chinese law.
He stated that the lawsuit itself was illegal since the prosecutor was unable to present any legal evidence. He had requested to drop the lawsuit last September. He also said that a stable society needs good citizens like practitioners who follow the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. They don't respond with violence, even though they have been treated unfairly for the past decade.
Ms. Yang and the defense lawyer demanded her release. The court officials had no choice but to adjourn.
Ms. Yang's sister wanted to talk to her after the trial but she was not allowed to do so.
Practicing Falun Gong Benefits the Stability of Families and Society
Ms. Yang's husband, Mr. Li Zhixin wrote a letter to the Anning Court on January 22, 2014, requesting her release on bail. He stated in his letter that Ms. Yang returned to good health after practicing Falun Gong. She no longer had a bad temper and their on-the-verge of divorce marriage was saved. She took good care of her parents-in-law and their children. The whole family was happy. He said, “My own experience shows that not only does practicing Falun Gong do no harm to family and society, it actually benefits the stability of families and society.
Background
Ms. Yang, 44, was a former employee of the Dahuang Phosphate Mine in Anning, Yunnan. She has been persecuted since the time when Falun Gong was banned in July of 1999. She was fired from her workplace for practicing Falun Gong. She was sentenced to three years in prison in 2006. After her release she was unable to find a job due to police intervention.
Summary of Key Persecution Facts:
Name: Yang Muhua (杨木花) Gender: Female Age: 44 Address: Unknown Occupation : former employee of the Dahuang Phosphate Mine Date of Most Recent Arrest: May 26, 2013 Most Recent Place of Detention: Unknown City: Anning Province: Yunnan Persecution Suffered : illegal sentencing, fired from workplace, and detention Key Persecutors: Ye Lin (叶林), Li Yonghong (李永宏 ) Defense Attorney: Unknown
