On January 15th, 2008, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) court in the Hongkou District of Shanghai City, carried out instructions from the 610 Office1, acting in accordance with prearranged procedure, to sentence Falun Gong practitioner Zhou Lixun, who has serious illness, to three years in prison. The sentence will be served outside of prison because of her poor health.
On May 14th, 2007, around two o'clock in the afternoon, Ms. Zhou Lixun from the Fifth Kongjiang Village Yangpu District was distributing leaflets exposing the persecution and telling people the facts about Falun Gong around Wujin Road, Hongkou District. Three plainclothes police officers discovered her and arrested her. They handcuffed her and shoved her head to the ground. Passersby were all astonished, Zhou Lixun cried out, "I am a Falun Gong practitioner!" One of the passersby replied: "Why do people who practise Falun Gong have to suffer this type of mistreatment?"
Zhou Lixun was taken to Zhapu Police Station where she was interrogated. She refused to answer any of their questions, but asked them to treat practitioners with kindness.
At nine o'clock that night, six policemen in two cars escorted her home and attempted to use her keys to break into her house. Unsuccessful, they hired someone to bust down the door and then raided her home.
The neighbors were surprised and all came out to see what was happening. Zhou Lixun seized the chance and told them she was arrested because she practises Falun Gong.
The police confiscated all her Falun Gong books, audio and video materials, her computer and printer. They took her to Yanjie Police Station and took pictures of the items confiscated. At midnight, she was taken back to Zhapu Police Station. She was deprived of food and water for most of the day and later taken to Hongkou Detention Centre.
Zhou Lixun was seriously ill the next morning, she could not sit up and her blood sugar was four plus. The police took her to Tilanqiao Hospital where she was diagnosed with tuberculosis. Zhou Lixun was eventually bailed out after her family's repeated demands to get her released.
In September 2007, her case was sent to Hongkou District Court and the court date was set for January 15th, 2008. During this period, Zhou Lixun's health condition turned for the worse. She was bedridden and could not take care of herself, yet she was still dragged to court.
At the court, the perpetrators put on an elaborate show as they asked her several questions according to the prearranged procedure, stating that she was committing a crime by joining a "cult," and spreading "superstition." Zhou Lixun replied: "Falun Gong is not a cult and it is not superstition. I practise Falun Gong because I want to be a better person. What is wrong about practising Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance?" After a break, the court read its verdict: she was sentenced to three years in prison. However, due to her poor health, her sentence will be served outside of prison. Zhou Lixun refused to sign her name. She stated that she is innocent as she spoke out, "Practising Falun Gong is not a crime."
The court judges, over the years, have met numerous Falun Gong practitioners and they know that Falun Gong is good; they have learned the truth behind the persecution. However, they continue to sentence practitioners, even against their consciences, in order to save their jobs. They have been carrying out the CCP's illegal edicts. Judge Xiao Wanxiang, in particular, has sentenced many Falun Gong practitioners to lengthy prison terms over the years.
610 officials harassed Zhou Lixun at home numerous times in the days leading up to the court date. We ask them again here: Immediately stop persecuting Falun Gong practitioners!
Responsible parties:
Hongkou District People's Court: 531 North Baoxing Road Shanghai 200083
Operator: 21-56333300
Report Hot line: 21-56336542
Hongkou District Procurator Bureau: 902 Tangshan Road, Shanghai 200082
Operator: 21-65852000.
Chief Procurator: Zhou Fumin
Hongkou District Government: 518 Feihong Road
Operator: 21-25658888
Emergency Hot line: 21-25657110
Note
1. "The 610 office" is an agency specifically created to persecute Falun Gong, with absolute power over each level of administration in the Party and all other political and judiciary systems.
Chinese version available at http://minghui.org/mh/articles/2008/2/26/173158.html
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