July 23, 2002

There are many revolting human rights abuses in the world. But there are none more despicable than a government punishing people for their thoughts and peacefully expressed religious views. The Chinese government's persecution of the Falun Gong has earned it a disgraceful place in the world.

On this third anniversary of the beginning of the Chinese Government's campaign to persecute and eradicate the Falun Gong, Physicians for Human Rights offers its sympathy and support to the victims of religious persecution. We appeal to China to lift the ban on Falun Gong, release all those jailed for the peaceful expression of religious views, and make restitution to the family members of those Falun Gong members who died in official custody.

As we remember today the peaceful victims of religious repression in China, it is worth remembering the fate of other regimes who punished and abused peaceful practitioners of their faith or values. Among its many abuses, the Soviet Union was perhaps most shamed internationally for its persecution of Jews and Pentecostal Christians. The Taliban in Afghanistan will forever be remembered -- and reviled -- for its destruction of precious religious artifacts and gross abuses against those who departed from its official religious orthodoxy.

Gone are the days when governments can jail, torture, and murder their citizens in secret. Today's gathering by faithful adherents of Falun Gong in memory of their brothers and sisters and the support by hundreds of Members of Congress as well as American nongovernmental organizations shows that the worlds knows -- and is horrified by -- what the government of China has done to the Falun Gong. It can never occupy a respected place in the international community while such abuses continue and proliferate.