6 cult members stand trial in Central China
Updated: 2014-07-03 19:44
(Xinhua)
|
||||||||
CHANGSHA - Six cult members pleaded guilty to a range of offenses in court in central China's Hunan Province on Thursday.
The defendants, who are members of the illegal cult Quannengshen (almighty god), were on trial accused of organizing cult activities and funding, recruiting believers and producing preaching articles in Hunan, according to the procuratorate of Wuling District in the city of Changde.
They pleaded guilty to all charges.
Cult woman sentenced for 'exorcism' killing |
The cult came into the spotlight when six Quannengshen members beat a woman to death on May 28 at a McDonalds outlet in the eastern province of Shandong, after she refused to hand over her telephone number. The cult members were allegedly trying to recruit people.
Appearing in the 1990s in central China's Henan Province, the Quannengshen group claims that Jesus has been resurrected as Yang Xiangbin, wife of the sect's founder Zhao Weishan, also known as Xu Wenshan. The couple fled to the United States in September 2000.
The sect has been widely criticized for spreading rumors and coercing people to join. In late October and early November 1998, robberies and assaults connected with the cult were reported over 12 days in Henan's Tanghe County, with victims' limbs broken and ears cut off.
- A secretive cult that exploits the weak and vulnerable
- Cult woman sentenced for 'exorcism' killing
- Two China regions arrest 1,500 cult members
- 7 cult members under public prosecution in Guangzhou
- Suspects in cult beating 'feel no remorse'
- Fatal beating at McDonald's spurs tighter cult crackdown
- Relatives mourn victim of cult murder
- China outraged by cult violence
- Cult followers convicted of endangering society
- Macy's 'Fourth' show will include made-in-China fireworks
- Smithsonian Folklife Festival 2014 features China and Kenya
- Xi urges US to view China 'objectively'
- Xbox One readies for national debut
- Political plan
- Naturalization ceremony at New York Public Library
- Bridging the culture gap
- Consumers from China prefer niche luxury items
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
China helps fight international war on drugs |
Crackdown on terrorist attacks |
My China Story: Meeting the master |
Tongues tied around tatu-bola |
A market that's not such a hot property |
Tough regime cranks out test winners |
Today's Top News
Private, foreign investment to aid tourism industry
Culture the best basis for ties
Chinese turns to US for milk products
Giving voice to voiceless people
China's presence in RIMPAC 'significant'
US hopes high for S&ED
Restrictions loosened in Shanghai trade zone
Top-level general expelled for graft
US Weekly
Geared to go |
The place to be |