(Minghui.org) The prosecutor in the trial of four Falun Gong practitioners recommended lighter sentences after listening to the defense arguments.

Practitioners Peng Lvmei, Wang Sheng, Wang Guilan, and Li Xianqi were tried on January 17, 2016 for hanging up banners bearing information about Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline being persecuted by the Chinese communist regime.

The defense lawyers argued that no law in China criminalizes Falun Gong and that their clients had every right to publicize their faith, which is based on the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.

Prosecutor Chen Shunxiang didn’t refute the defense arguments. Instead, he suggested that the judge give lighter sentences to the practitioners.

The judge announced that a verdict would be issued later on.

The four practitioners remain detained following their arrests about eleven months ago.