(Minghui.org) Following their arrest on October 23 of last year, Mr. Dong Zhiyu and Mr. Wang Yiyong were illegally tried at the Shenhe District Court in Shenyang City on July 7, 2014.
The court officials appeared somewhat sympathetic to the two Falun Gong practitioner's situation. However, the court had no choice but to carry on with the show trial.
Both men's lawyers delivered solid arguments in defense of their clients' rights to freedom of belief, but despite his sympathy, the presiding judge dared not acquit them. In the prosecutor's words: “We have to listen to the higher-ups' decision regarding the verdict.”
Both men defended themselves, and they reminded the court that it was not illegal to practice Falun Gong. They also talked about the benefits they experienced through the practice.
During the trial, Judge Jiao Yuling and another judge interrupted their lawyers' defense and claimed that much of it was irrelevant to the case. However, the judges' attitudes were neither peremptory nor arrogant. The prosecutor added that the matter of a verdict was already arranged by superiors.
Judge Jiao remained silent throughout the trial, and when she learned more about the goodness of Falun Gong, her eyes turned red and tearful. She left soon after the trial's afternoon session began, claiming she was ill.
Unlike other trials of Falun Gong practitioners, there were no police officers or plainclothes officers inside or outside the court; neither was there anyone taking photos.
Before the trial began, a man who appeared to be an official sat in the public seating area. Judge Jiao Yuling addressed him as Captain Xu, but even he left shortly after answering a phone call. Ultimately, there was not a single police officer present during the trial.
Initially only four family members were allowed to see the trial. Later on, two more were allowed into the courtroom. Judge Jiao Yuling noted that family members would be allowed to see the detained practitioners after the trial since they had not seen each other for several months. However, when the trial ended it was past office hours, so they did not get to see each other.
Judge Jiao Yuling had sentenced other Falun Gong practitioners to prison in the past. Acting under orders from the Shenyang City 610 Office, she sent practitioners Zhai Hui, Meng Qingjie, and Jiang Dexin to prison.
Both Mr. Dong and Mr. Wang are teachers at the Xiongshi Modern Fine Art Design School in Shenyang City. Founded by two Falun Gong practitioners (Mr. Guo Baoshi and Mr. Xu Juntao), the art school stands out because of its emphasis on traditional Chinese culture; moreover, many of its teachers are Falun Gong practitioners.
The police started to monitor the school about three years ago. Then, on October 23 of last year, officers blitzed the school's campus. In a matter of days, 42 people, including faculty, students, and their family members, were arrested and interrogated.
Many students were traumatized by the experience. In particular Ba Guannan, 28, was pressured by police to fabricate evidence against his teachers. The psychological blow affected him so greatly that he died in his sleep in March of this year.
Fifteen people are still in custody. The detained includes seven teachers and six of their family members.
Previous reports on the incident:
Heavy Hand of CCP Oppression Descends on Traditional Culture School in Liaoning Province
Art School Students and Teachers Interrogated and Traumatized