UK Government Expresses Deep Concern over Beijing’s 25 Years of Persecution of Falun Gong
The government has been warned that any regime that goes against those who uphold ‘truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance’ cannot be considered trustworthy.
Downing Street expressed deep concern over the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China, which has been ongoing for 25 years.
Benedict Rogers, co-founder and deputy chair of the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission, stated that the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners demonstrates that the communist regime cannot be relied upon as a business partner. He called for the government to cease business relations as usual.
Former British MEP and vice president of the European Parliament, Edward McMillan-Scott, proposed April 25—the anniversary of a peaceful demonstration by Falun Gong practitioners in Beijing 25 years ago—as a “world awareness day.”
Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a self-improvement discipline that promotes the values of “truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance.”
Originating in mainland China in 1992, the practice garnered between 70 million to 100 million followers before facing persecution by the Chinese regime in 1999 led by former leader Jiang Zemin.
U.S. journalist Danny Schechter reported on a peaceful appeal by around 10,000 to 15,000 Falun Gong practitioners in Beijing on April 25, 1999, which led to the regime launching a campaign to suppress the practice only three months later.
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A people’s tribunal led by British barrister and judge Sir Geoffrey Nice, KC in 2019 found that Falun Gong adherents were the primary victims of forced organ harvesting, along with Uyghur Muslims and other ethnic minorities.A letter sent to Wei Liu of the UK Falun Dafa Association from Downing Street reiterated the government’s deep concern over the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China, citing credible evidence of mistreatment against them.
The letter underscored the importance of religious freedom and belief, stating that all individuals should be able to practice their faith without discrimination or violence, as it is a fundamental human right.
Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf’s office also expressed deep concern over the persecution of religious groups in China and vowed to carefully consider evidence of alleged abuses and organ harvesting.
The office noted that if the allegations of systematic, state-sponsored organ harvesting are true, it would constitute a severe violation of human rights.
At an event commemorating the 25th anniversary of the 1999 demonstration, Benedict Rogers highlighted that Falun Gong’s principles are universal values that should be embraced by people of all beliefs. He cautioned liberal democracies against trusting the CCP.
Rogers called out the CCP for its repressive actions, falsehoods, torture, and killings, urging the international community to stop normalizing relations with such a regime.
He emphasized that a regime that persecutes individuals for upholding ‘truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance,’ and engages in forced organ harvesting, cannot be considered a reliable partner for business.
Rogers, who has faced sanctions from the Chinese regime for his human rights advocacy, advocated for open dialogue with China but stressed the importance of prioritizing human rights in those discussions.
Speaking to NTD, Edward McMillan-Scott condemned the persecution of Falun Gong and others, stating that it exposes the true nature of the regime in Beijing.
The former MEP criticized past leaders for cozying up to Beijing and emphasized the importance of raising awareness about persecuted minorities in China, particularly Falun Gong practitioners.
He called for the international community to acknowledge April 25 as a day to remember the sacrifices made by Falun Gong practitioners and to raise awareness about ongoing human rights abuses.
McMillan-Scott concluded by stressing the importance of addressing the challenges posed by the CCP and urged leaders to prioritize human rights in their interactions with China.
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