(Minghui.org) Falun Gong practitioners went to the Jishan County Courthouse on June 15, 2016 to attend the trial of a practitioner who had been arrested for filing a criminal complaint against former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin.

Many of the practitioners were arrested inside and outside the building after showing their support for Mr. Jia Guojie, a local physician from Jishan County, Shanxi Province.

The arrested supporters included local practitioners and others from surrounding cities and towns.

Passersby Searched and Filmed

On the morning of June 15, when the court session was going to be held, the Jishan County court building was heavily guarded by police, officials from the local 610 Office, and the Domestic Security Division. They searched and videoed each passerby in the area.

Witnesses said many Domestic Security officers from neighboring cities and counties also ringed the building.

Police Cars Around the Jishan County Court

Supporters Arrested

At 8:00 am, several practitioners were stopped by Jishan Domestic Security police at the courthouse entrance as they tried to enter. Police ordered them to show ID and arrested them immediately when they were verified as Falun Gong practitioners.

They took the practitioners to the Criminal Section of Jishan County Police Bureau and interrogated them.

At the same time, court staff arrested several practitioners who accompanied the defense attorney and confiscated their IDs.

At approximately 9:00am, police began to search practitioners who stood around the court building and pushed them into police vehicles. A witness said that one large van and two smaller cars were filled with practitioners.

Two practitioners, Mr. Hou Shengzu and Mr. Guo Xiaozhen, were allowed into the building but had not come out by 2:00 pm.

That afternoon, Mr. Hou's phone bill collection shop was open, yet a person who entered to pay a bill was told, “He’s busy and not available to help you now.”

The next morning, Mr. Hou's shop was closed. Three policemen patrolled the entrance.

Defense Attorney Enters Not Guilty Plea

Mr. Jia's attorney entered a not guilty plea for his client, arguing that Mr. Jia broke no law by exercised his right to seek justice against Jiang Zemin for infringing upon his freedom of belief.

“There is no law that criminalizes Falun Gong,” the attorney stated in court, “so the prosecution of this case is illegal from the outset. There are no witnesses, nor is there any evidence to show he committed a crime. Moreover, the court has not followed due process of law.”

Previous Persecution and Arrest

Mr. Jia Guojie, 43, graduated from Guangzhou No.1 Military Medical University. Because he would not give up his belief in Falun Gong at the demands of communist authorities, he was given a three-year prison term and, later, another five-year term. He suffered brutal torture during his incarceration.

Mr. Jia filed a criminal complaint against Jiang Zemin on July 3, 2015. In retaliation, police arrested and detained him for 15 days.

Mr. Jia then appealed to the Jishan County Police Bureau. In resposne, officers from the local 610 Office and Domestic Security Division constantly harassed him.

He was arrested again on December 31, 2015 and was scheduled to be tried on June 15, 2016.

Mr. Jia's father suffered a heart attack and could not attend the hearing. His mother cried every day before the trial because she worried that her son would be further abused by the authorities.

Perpetrators' contact information (partial):

Jishan County Domestic Security Division:Yan Guangming, Captain, +86-13383487151

Criminal Court No.1 of Jishan County Court,Lan Ping, presiding judge: +86-13753970988

Jishan County Police Bureau:Officials: Tang Shiliang, Di Peitian, Nie Suolian, Wei Zhiqiang, Tian Genhui

Jishan County Detention Center:Officials: Wei Min, Jiao Jianzhong, Sun Yinling, Ma Yanhong, Ning Yunfeng

Background

In 1999, Jiang Zemin, as head of the Chinese Communist Party, overrode other Politburo standing committee members and launched the violent suppression of Falun Gong.

The persecution has led to the deaths of many Falun Gong practitioners in the past 16 years. More have been tortured for their belief and even killed for their organs. Jiang Zemin is directly responsible for the inception and continuation of the brutal persecution.

Under his personal direction, the Chinese Communist Party established an extralegal security organ, the “610 Office,” on June 10, 1999. The organization overrides police forces and the judicial system in carrying out Jiang's directive regarding Falun Gong: to ruin their reputations, cut off their financial resources, and destroy them physically.

Chinese law allows for citizens to be plaintiffs in criminal cases, and many practitioners are now exercising that right to file criminal complaints against the former dictator.