News Release

For Immediate Release

February 8, 2002

Montréal - Yesterday, the Quebec Superior Court expanded a safeguard order to include more restrictions on Montreal-based Chinese newspaper Les Presses Chinoises in its publications because of its violation of the existing safeguard order which prohibits it from defaming Falun Gong.

The court order prohibits Les Presses Chinoises from publishing material about Falun Gong which is unreasonable or contrary to Quebec and Canadian Law, and also from directly or indirectly using the words 'evil', 'hate', 'deviant', 'perverted practices', or 'enemies of the state' in reference to the practitioners of Falun Gong.

A safeguard order was first issued on December 10, 2001. Despite Les Presses Chinoises contesting the safeguard order on January 7, 2002, the court renewed it. However, Les presses Chinoises ignored these court orders, and abused its access to media in publishing a 12-page insert that continuously defames Falun Gong and incites all the Chinese people in Canada to 'denounce' Falun Gong.

"We intend to bring contempt proceedings against the respondents for violating the existing orders of the court with respect to the content of the insert." said petitioner Dan Sky.

"Les Presses Chinoises would even dare to violate the court order to echo Chinese government's propaganda. We have to do what we can to stop hate propaganda from poisoning our country. The Chinese authorities are making every effort to influence the media," said another petitioner, Yumin Yang.

Falun Gong lawyer Mr. Michael Bergman said, after the hearing, "The willingness of the Court to place more severe restrictions on the newspaper indicates the favorable reception of the legal position of Falun Gong practitioners. My clients seek to uphold Quebec and Canadian society as a place where they can practice their beliefs in freedom and without fear of hate-inciting material."

Background information:

Falun Gong is a practice of body, mind and spirit through focusing on the universal principles of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance, and practicing gentle exercise and meditation.

First awarded and praised in China, Falun Gong became the target of a large-scale persecution campaign after government surveys showed that the number of Falun Gong practitioners exceeded that of Communist Party membership. Since that time, the Chinese President launched a worldwide propaganda smear campaign to defame Falun Gong and justify his human rights abuses. Hate materials have been distributed directly to our Canadian government officials, schools, libraries and citizens. In China, over 365 Falun Gong practitioners have been confirmed tortured to death in police custody.