(Minghui.org) The Criminal Division of the Qilihe District Court in Lanzhou City, Gansu Province, held a hearing to illegally try Mr. He Jianzhong at 9:30 a.m. on March 26, 2013. Mr. He's defense lawyer requested his client's immediate release, since he had not broken any laws.
Police cars surrounded the courthouse, and no one was allowed to approach the building. Only Mr. He's family members, police officers, 610 Office agents, Political and Legal Affairs Committee officials, and Residential Committee staff were allowed inside the courtroom despite the court labeling the proceedings as a "public hearing."
The prosecutor claimed that Mr. He had "breached the laws by utilizing a cult organization." Mr. He's defense attorney pointed out that the prosecutor never clearly specified which "cult organization" Mr. He had utilized, or how. The prosecutor did not provide any proof to support his allegations.
The defense attorney further stated that Mr. He had not jeopardized anyone's life or property, and had not committed any crime.
The lawyer told the court that it was not illegal to have informational materials about Falun Gong, such as those confiscated from Mr. He. These materials teach people to be good persons and abide by the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Furthermore, Mr. He's act of distributing these materials was no different from that of a salesperson promoting a business. Similarly, no laws prohibited the distribution of Shen Yun Performing Arts DVDs (also confiscated from Mr. He), which “bring spiritual wealth to human beings,” said the lawyer.
The defense attorney pointed out that the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are commonly recognized by human beings. He further argued that no laws exist to ban anyone from writing or saying statements like, "The Chinese Communist Party will be destroyed by heaven,” since the Chinese Constitution grants the basic right to express oneself.
With regard to theNine Commentaries on the Communist Party also confiscated from Mr. He, the lawyer argued that this series factually recollected China's history and offered the authorities an opportunity to remember historical lessons and use political power to bring benefits to the people.
The lawyer concluded that Mr. He did not utilize a cult organization or breach any national laws or administrative rules, so he should be acquitted and released immediately.
Background
Mr. He Jianzhong, in his 50s, was previously subjected to 7 years of imprisonment and persecution at the Lanzhou Prison (also known as the Dashaping Prison).
On May 1, 2003, he was placed in a solitary confinement and forced to wear shackles and handcuffs weighing approximately 50 pounds. His hands and feet were fastened together by a 4-meter-long iron chain in such a way that he could not stand up straight. The guards would not unlock his handcuffs even at meal times. Very soon, his muscles atrophied, and the heavy steel block on the shackles nearly crushed his bones.
Only after Mr. He persevered with a hunger strike for 9 days did the guards finally remove his cuffs and shackles. They kept him locked up in solitary confinement for one month. When Mr. He got out of solitary confinement, he could barely walk. For a long time, he had to use a wooden stick or to hold onto another person for support to walk.
Mr. He Jianzhong was released in 2008. However, on October 28, 2012, he was illegally arrested again by the 610 Office agents in Lanzhou City.
