Urumqi Court Sentences Six Guanyin Famen "Cult" Members

The Shuimogou District People's Court in Urumqi on July 21 sentenced six members of the Guanyin Famen [Way of the Goddess of Mercy] organization to prison terms ranging from two to four years for their "cult" activities. Although the central government banned the Way of the Goddess of Mercy organization in July 1999 following its ban on the better known Falun Gong qigong organization, the Xinjiang courts had not convicted and sentenced any of its members for violating the criminal law until July 2005. (For further information on Guanyin Famen see here and here.)