Falun Gong Practitioner Urges UK Prime Minister to Assist Father Detained in China

July 23, 2024 TruthUSA

The case of Mr. Ding Yuande was highlighted in a resolution by the European Parliament calling for an end to the persecution against the spiritual practice.

LONDON—The son of a Falun Gong practitioner who is currently imprisoned in China for his faith is urging the UK Prime Minister to help secure his immediate release.

Ding Lebin’s father, Ding Yuande, was taken away by plainclothes Chinese police from his tea farm in May 2023 without a warrant. In December 2023, he was sentenced to three years in prison for practicing Falun Gong.

In January, the European Parliament passed a resolution calling for an end to the persecution campaign against the spiritual discipline. The resolution specifically mentioned Mr. Ding Yuande’s situation and urged Beijing to release him along with other persecuted Falun Gong practitioners.

Mr. Ding has been campaigning across Europe for his father’s release. He participated in a rally in London on July 20, marking 25 years since the persecution of Falun Gong began in China.

At the rally, Mr. Ding shared that his family had been separated for nearly 12 years due to the ongoing persecution.

“I hope that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will call on the CCP to release my father and end the persecution against my parents immediately,” said Mr. Ding. He also expressed his desire for the Prime Minister to request Beijing to issue passports to his parents so they could join him in Europe and reunite their family.

“I aim to raise awareness about my parents’ persecution to more people, communities, and Western politicians. This will shed light on the severe repression Falun Gong practitioners have faced over the past 25 years,” stated the younger Mr. Ding, who resides in Berlin, after attending the rally in London.

“This persecution targets not only Falun Gong practitioners but our fundamental humanity,” he added.

Originating from ancient Chinese spiritual beliefs, Falun Gong was introduced to the Chinese public in 1992. By the end of the decade, the practice had attracted millions of followers in China, with its gentle exercises and moral principles of truth, compassion, and forbearance.

Currently, Ding Yuande is detained in Shandong Provincial Prison, while his wife, who was arrested at the same time, remains under surveillance in the city of Rizhao, despite being released with global assistance.

The younger Mr. Ding also appealed to the British government to join the United States and the European Union in condemning and halting the ongoing persecution against Falun Gong.

During a visit to China in June, EU officials expressed concerns about the severe human rights violations and called for the immediate release of various rights activists and spiritual practitioners, including Ding’s father.

In June, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill urging for an end to the suppression of Falun Gong and sanctioning those involved in the systematic forced organ harvesting by the CCP.

On July 20, the U.S. State Department issued a statement calling on Beijing to cease the 25-year persecution against Falun Gong and release those imprisoned for their beliefs.

“Only through sanctions and holding perpetrators accountable can justice and conscience prevail in the world,” remarked Mr. Ding.

Mr. Ding’s advocacy efforts have received support from European Parliament member Miriam Lexmann.

“No individual should suffer persecution for their faith and beliefs. The CCP must end the persecution of Falun Gong and be held responsible for the inhumane act of forced organ harvesting,” stated Lexmann in a social media post.

“Mr. Ding Yuande and all practitioners must be freed!!”

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