(Minghui.org) Theirs used to be a dysfunctional family: both husband and wife were laid off from work, and the bad-tempered, alcoholic husband often beat his wife after getting drunk, once even leaving her hospitalized for several days. This was all very hard on their daughter and the husband's paralyzed father.

To make a living, the husband went to work in South Korea from 2002 to 2007, during which time he often saw that people outside of China were allowed to practice and enjoy the benefits of Falun Gong.

He didn't dare to try the practice when he returned to China, but his chronic health problems, including an inflamed gallbladder, psoriasis, high blood pressure and heart disease, eventually prompted him to give Falun Gong a try in 2010. His wife, who had suffered from menstrual cramps for years on end, soon joined him.

As they started to live according to Falun Gong's principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, their conflicts evaporated, and they became a loving couple. Family life improved for everyone.

But their happiness did not last long. When Mr. Xu Xianda (徐显达) and Ms. Huang Xiaoxia (黄晓霞) were telling others how they had benefited from the practice of Falun Gong, someone reported them to the police. Over 10 officers in Hegang City, Heilongjiang Province, and the Community Director surrounded their apartment on April 23, 2014. They arrested the couple and another practitioner who was visiting them.

The officers also ransacked the apartment and confiscated many personal belongings, including two desktop computers, one laptop, five hard drives, two printers, printing paper, a paper cutter, packaging bags, and several hundred yuan in cash.

Family Barred from the Courtroom

The couple was tried seven months later, at 9 a.m. on November 27, 2014. Plainclothes officers were stationed inside and outside the courtroom, secretly taking pictures and videotaping.

The couple's relatives heard about the trial and went to the courthouse, but none of them was allowed to enter. When they asked why they had not been notified of the trial, 610 Office staff person Zhang Zilong replied, “We posted a notice two or three days ago. All the spectator passes were taken.” He said the 50-seat courtroom was packed and there was no room for family members.

Mr. Xu's younger sister said to Zhang, “We haven't seen my brother and sister-in-law for several months. Why can't we sit in the courtroom, while those who are not related can? Plus, after my brother and sister-in-law were arrested, there was no one to take care of my father, and you police called us many times to go and check on him. Why didn't you call to let us know the trial date?”

One onlooker commented to Zhang, “I think you should let them in—everyone has family and you cannot mistreat them like this.”

In the end, four out of the seven relatives were allowed to enter, including the couple's daughter. After being seated, they overheard one bystander say, “It seems the community director asked you to come here and told you where to sit. Me, too.”

Defense Attorney Ejected from the Courtroom

An attorney pleaded not guilty on behalf of Mr. Xu and Ms. Huang based on China's Constitution, Articles 35 ("Citizens enjoy freedom of speech, of the press, of assembly, of association, of procession and of demonstration.”) and 36 (“Citizens enjoy freedom of religious belief.”)

He argued that, because of Mr. Xu and Ms. Huang's belief in Falun Gong, it is lawful for them to own, download, and print Falun Gong materials and to tell others about it. Plus, they did not force anyone to accept their ideology. Based on this legal reasoning, the attorney asked that the couple be released.

The ‎presiding judge and the assistant judge did not know what to say in response. After discussing it, they ordered the bailiffs to eject the attorney from the courtroom.

Ironically, the police knew that the couple's lives had improved after they began to practice Falun Gong. After Ms. Huang recovered from ‎menstrual cramps by doing the exercises, she often helped Mr. Xu support the family and helped to take care of his 79-year-old father, who had been paralyzed due to a stroke.

Once, seeing Ms. Huang cleaning up her father-in-law, who had soiled himself, an officer said in front of her family and other officers, “She is a really nice person. Very few daughters-in-law would do that.”

But this kindhearted wife and her husband were not exempt from being persecuted. When the couple were detained and put on trial, their young daughter and elderly, paralyzed father were left on their own.

Parties Involved in Persecuting Mr. Xu and Ms. Huang

Zhang Jianxin (张建新): presiding judgeSong Wenhao (宋文豪): assistant judgeZhang Dali (张达力): 610 Office DirectorZhang Zilong (张子龙): staff member, 610 Office