(Minghui.org) Ms. Ma Dongmei was illegally sentenced to 6 years in prison, and her sister was informed of this by a Shahekou District Court judge on September 2, 2014.

When the sister questioned judge Li Bianjiang regarding the heavy sentence, he replied, “The city was cracking down to safeguard security of the National Games. Ms. Ma is a repeat offender [referring to her efforts to raise awareness about the persecution of Falun Gong] and pleaded not guilty to her crimes. The length of the sentence was a joint decision from various departments of the Xianglujiao Police Station.”

Ms. Ma's sister argued that the court is supposed to grant citizens a fair trial, and the police station does not have the authority to make such a decision. Judge Li said it was not up to him. She asked to meet with him, but the judge claimed he was busy and ended the conversation.

Photo of Ms. Ma Dongmei

Background on Ms. Ma Dongmei's Case

Prior to the National Games being held in Dalian City, Liaoning Province in September 2013, police arrested several Falun Gong practitioners, including Ms. Ma, claiming it was necessary to "bolster security for the games."

Ms. Ma Dongmei has been arrested and detained many times for distributing materials about Falun Gong. Her latest arrest was on August 31, 2013, and she was charged with “disrupting social order.”

She was tried at Shahekou District Court on May 27, 2014. Ms. Ma pleaded not guilty. She said, “I developed severe asthma when I was three. I often missed school and couldn't work when I became an adult. My illness was a great burden on myself and my family. After I began to practice Falun Gong in 1994, my asthma attacks became fewer and less severe.”

She continued, “Having benefited so much from practicing Falun Gong, I of course wanted to share more information about the practice with others so that they can benefit as well. I didn't commit any crime.”

Ms. Ma's elderly mother, Zhang Huijun, wrote an appeal letter to defend her daughter on June 26, 2014. She wrote, “How can a defenseless woman's peaceful actions to benefit others be regarded as criminal activity? I really don't understand why she was charged or why the police want to send her to prison.”

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