(Minghui.org) A 71-year-old man in Shenyang City, Liaoning Province, stood trial on August 6, 2026, because he practices Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline that has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999.
Mr. Li Rongxin, a retired elementary school teacher, was arrested at his home at noon on February 4, 2026, together with his wife, Ms. Guo Lizhi. Seven agents from the Huanggu District Domestic Security Office and the Huanghe Police Station broke in by prying open the door.
The police spent the next three hours ransacking the couple’s home. They confiscated their Falun Gong books, printer, radio, and memory cards. One officer also slammed a portrait of the founder of Falun Gong to the floor.
Ms. Guo was released on bail 37 days later. Mr. Li continues to be held at the Huanggu District Detention Center. Despite pressure from the guards, he refused to write statements to renounce his faith.
After the Dadong District Procuratorate indicted Mr. Li and moved his case to the Dadong District Court, judge Liang Mo initially didn’t allow Ms. Guo, who applied to be his family defender, to review his case documents or visit him. Only after she filed a complaint was her request was approved.
Yet days before Mr. Li’s hearing on August 6, judge Liang suddenly revoked Ms. Guo’s right to represent him. Hours later, judge Liang, together with court clerk Zhou Zihe, a police officer, and a bailiff, showed up at the couple’s home. They ordered Ms. Guo to “cooperate” with them and delete copies of Mr. Li’s case files from her computer and cell phone, while videotaping her the entire time.
On the day of the hearing, the presiding judge was changed from Liang to Chen Zhuangwei. Liang remained in the case as an assistant judge.
Ms. Guo and her daughter were listed as prosecution witnesses against Mr. Li, and were barred from attending the hearing. Only Mr. Li’s son-in-law was allowed into the courtroom. He applied to be Mr. Li’s defender, but was denied.
Prosecutor Zhang Guixian attemped to press Mr. Li to plead guilty. He refused to comply and Zhang threatened to give him a heavy term.
Presiding judge Chen frequently interrupted Mr. Li when he testified in his own defense. The hearing ended in 50 minutes.
Related Report:
Married Couple Arrested for Practicing Falun Gong, Husband Still Detained Over Two Months Later
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