Thank you, Prosecutor Gao Tian, for your hard work. Thank you to the three members of the collegial panel, my lawyer, all the bailiffs, the audience, and my wife.
If I found five unlicensed art training institutions in Songbei District that have been operating for over three years and are over 200 to 300 square meters in size, would you prosecute them? I don’t think so. The reason is simple: you are prosecuting me because of my faith. On my way here in the police car, I saw the core socialist values, especially the four words in the middle: freedom, equality, justice, and the rule of law. Based on all the information and evidence presented these past few days, I firmly believe I am innocent. I earnestly request the collegial panel to acquit me. If you decide to convict me, I believe it would be a clear case of religious persecution. If you do not acknowledge this, then you should acquit me.
Standing here, I see a large scale in front of the collegial panel’s bench, and there are also scales on the chairs of the three members of the panel. This is very important for you and the court, just as the cross is important to Christians. Fair and just, regardless of age, gender, skin color, or religious belief. What I ultimately hope for is a fair trial.
I don’t know what the future holds. I don’t particularly want to leave now; I have gotten used to life there, regardless of the outcome of my trial. I have already been inside for more than one year and eleven months, and I know I will be out soon, but I still hope the collegial panel can give me a fair trial. Of course, I also plead for my co-defendant, who is my student. From her words and actions, you can see she is a very honest girl. It is my fault, and if possible, I hope the charges against her can be dropped, or that the judge can acquit her. That’s all, thank you.
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