(Minghui.org) Falun Gong practitioner Mr. Liu Yazhou was tried by Dalian City's Jinzhou District Court on November 17, 2016. His attorney pleaded not guilty on his behalf.

Mr. Liu was charged with “using a cult organization to undermine law enforcement”—a charge commonly used by the Chinese Communist Party to imprison Falun Gong practitioners in its persecution of the spiritual practice.

The prosecutor accused Mr. Liu of owning Falun Gong books and VCDs. Mr. Liu's attorney rebutted two aspects of the charge. He first pointed out the serious discrepancy in the quantity of books and VCDs between the indictment and the list of confiscated items. He believed this reflects fraud in Mr. Liu's case file. Secondly, the attorney stated that owning books and VCDs is a basic civil right and is not illegal.

The prosecutor also accused Mr. Liu of making phone calls and playing recorded messages about Falun Gong. The prosecutor claimed that he identified three people who received these phone calls with the recorded messages. However, he said that the three people could not recall the content of the recorded message. Mr. Liu's attorney rebutted this evidence, saying that witnesses are required to appear in court, otherwise it should not be regarded as evidence. Secondly, the attorney refuted the charges by stating that making phone calls to others is not a crime.

The prosecutor added that Mr. Liu was criminally detained in July 2000. Mr. Liu's attorney said that this was clearly perjury, as Mr. Liu was home at the time, which can be proven by Mr. Liu and his family.

The attorney asked Mr. Liu, “Did you undermine any law enforcement?” Mr. Liu replied, “No.”

At the end of his statement, Mr. Liu's attorney told the court that Mr. Liu was innocent and should be acquitted.

Mr. Liu, 43, was arrested on June 28, 2016, by officers from Dalian City Domestic Security Division and Sanshilipu Police Station. The police ransacked his home and confiscated computers, cellphones, Falun Gong books, and other personal belongings.

Mr. Liu, along with his wife and daughter, was taken to Sanshilipu Police Station. His wife and daughter were later released. Mr. Liu was taken to Sanli Detention Center and has since been held there.