(Minghui.org) May 13, 2021, marked the 22nd World Falun Dafa Day. Austrian parliament members and a governor wrote to the Austrian Falun Dafa Information Center to offer their congratulations on World Falun Dafa Day and condemn the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)'s 22-year-long persecution of this ancient spiritual discipline.
Dr. Martin Graf, Member of Parliament for the Austrian Liberal Democratic Party
Dr. Martin Graf, Member of Parliament for the Austrian Liberal Democratic Party, wrote, “With more than 100 million practitioners worldwide and teachings translated into more than forty languages, it would be a misunderstanding to say that Falun Dafa is simply a meditation practice. Rather, it is a peaceful movement to promote more positive thoughts in society, with practitioners cultivating themselves and searching inward for their own problems. The fundamental principles of Falun Dafa, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, should be promoted and become the inner core and foundation of any social order in the Western world. More so, I would like to extend my warmest greetings to all those who have worked tirelessly to counteract the persecution of Falun Dafa practitioners, and let us celebrate World Falun Dafa Day on May 13 together.”
Dr. Peter Kaiser, governor of Kainton State
Dr. Peter Kaiser, governor of Kainton State, wrote, “The principles of Falun Dafa, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, originate from the Buddhist qigong practice.” “Their (the Chinese Communist Party's) suppression, persecution, and torture of Falun Gong practitioners cannot be tolerated. The CCP’s actions are a violation of the fundamental freedoms of the individual in our global society as set forth in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.”
Ms. Petra Wimmer, a Social Democrat Member of Parliament
Ms. Petra Wimmer, a Social Democrat Member of Parliament, wrote: “In the era of the novel coronavirus pandemic, individual freedoms and fundamental rights are increasingly infringed upon, which reinforces how important strong democratic values are. The right to equality, the right to life, the right to individual liberty, and the right to be free from degrading punishment or torture should be self-evident in every country in the world. Unfortunately, Falun Dafa practitioners in China do not have these rights. They are persecuted, tortured, and murdered for their personal beliefs and values.
“Solidarity is an important asset, especially in a globalized world. I fight for solidarity every day. My thoughts are with the families of Falun Dafa practitioners who have died as a result of torture, imprisonment, or because of the illegal organ trade. The attention of the international community can raise awareness of these issues and thus increase the pressure on the Chinese government to stop these practices.
“I thank the Falun Dafa Information Center for its extensive truth-telling work and hope that in the future everyone in China (and around the world) will be able to practice a faith that suits them without fear of consequences.”
Ms. Petra Bayr, a member of the Austrian Parliament and the SPD's spokesperson for global development
“I am pleased to congratulate Falun Gong practitioners on the occasion of World Falun Dafa Day,” wrote Ms. Petra Bayr, a member of the Austrian Parliament and the SPD's spokesperson for global development. She emphasized: “Respect for human rights and the protection of religious freedom are issues that greatly concerned me as the SPD's spokesperson for global development.” “I am pleased to congratulate Falun Gong practitioners on the occasion of World Falun Dafa Day!”
Dr. Ewa Ernst-Dziedzic, a Member of Parliament from the Austrian Green Party
Dr. Ewa Ernst-Dziedzic, a Member of Parliament from the Austrian Green Party, wrote, “How to deal with a country where Falun Dafa practitioners or minorities such as Tibetans and Uighurs are systematically repressed, where orchestrated organ theft occurs, and where universal human rights are not even accepted as a concept? Austria must take a clear position here and continue to advocate for the protection of persecuted groups in the international arena. We must repeatedly address the issue of human rights violations within the framework of the EU and the UN and target this humanitarian disgrace because the Chinese leadership does not care what image it conveys to the world.
“Therefore, I will continue to use my parliamentary powers to force the Chinese leadership to end the inhumane persecution of Falun Dafa. In 1998, China signed the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, an international convention that promises to explicitly guarantee its citizens' freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. We must keep reminding those in charge within the Chinese power structure of this.”
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