overseas media on Falun Gong

Five local courts in this Chinese capital in the first trial handed down jail terms to 37 key members of the Falun Gong cult for violating laws by organizing and manipulating Falun Gong adherents.

The Beijing No.1 Intermediate People's Court sentenced Xue Hairong and four other Falun Gong cult members to terms of imprisonment of five to seven years.

Xue received the heaviest penalty among the five, for the downloading of illegal Falun Gong cult articles from the Internet, and printing and distributing the articles.

The Fengtai District People's Court sentenced Hang Xue and 11 other Falun Gong cult members to terms of imprisonment of three to ten years. Their crimes were organizing illegal gatherings of Falun Gong cult followers, and printing and distributing materials propagating the Falun Gong cult doctrine.

The People's Courts of Haidian, Fangshan and Tongzhou districts sentenced a total of 21 Falun Gong cult members to jail terms for organizing illegal gatherings of Falun Gong cult members and spreading the Falun Gong cult doctrine.

(Xinhua)