(Minghui.org) A Chengdu City, Sichuan Province resident was sentenced to two years in prison on December 18, 2019 for practicing Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline that has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999.
Ms. Huang Xiangling, 54, was also fined 5,000 yuan. She has appealed the verdict.
The prosecutor, Zhang Lijuan, accused Ms. Huang of “undermining law enforcement with a cult organization,” a standard pretext used by the authorities to frame Falun Gong practitioners.
The prosecution evidence against her included Falun Gong books, audio tapes, and hundreds of Falun Gong informational materials that the police alleged to have confiscated from Ms. Huang's home.
Ms. Huang’s lawyer pointed out that China’s criminal law stipulates that law enforcement personnel have full video recordings while arresting the suspects or ransacking their homes. But the police denied having such recordings in Ms. Huang's case.
In addition, the police also failed to provide a list of confiscated items for Ms. Huang to sign. She also wasn’t present during the home-ransacking.
The prosecutor also alleged that the police found in her purse several Falun Gong informational DVDs, along with paper currency bills printed with messages about the persecution. Ms. Huang countered that none of the said items belonged to her, as she saw the police bringing the items into the interrogation room at the police station and taking photos of them.
Her lawyer said that none of the alleged prosecution evidence should be admissible, given the police’s serious violation of legal procedure and fabrication of evidence.
The lawyer also argued that Ms. Huang has the right of freedom of belief and expression to practice her faith, andimprove her character and health. She didn’t cause harm to anyone, let alone undermine law enforcement.
Ms. Huang questioned the prosecutor several times, asking which law she had allegedly violated, and received no response.
The prosecutor accused Ms. Huang of being a repeat offender because she was given three years in prison in 2008 for practicing Falun Gong. He suggested that she be sentenced to at least three years this time.
Mr. Huang’s lawyer demanded her acquittal.
Judge Fu Hua sentenced Ms. Huang to two years, after a brief adjournment.
Hospitalized Before Court Hearing
Ms. Huang was arrested on November 21, 2018 at work. She was put on criminal detention the next day. Her arrest was approved by the Xindu Procuratorate on December 27, 2018.
Ms. Huang’s lawyer went to Chengdu City Detention Center to visit her the day before her hearing, only to be told that she had been hospitalized.
The lawyer went to the hospital in the afternoon and met with Ms. Huang. She told him that she had been on a hunger strike for four days and was given IV drips.
Ms. Huang was transferred from the hospital the next morning to appear in court. The doctor didn’t remove her shackles during the trial.
Her husband, who has disability in his leg and was just operated on, attended her trial.
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Two Women Detained for Five Months and Counting for Raising Awareness about Their Persecuted Faith
