(Minghui.org) Twenty-two years ago this month, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) started a nationwide campaign against Falun Gong practitioners. Since then, a large number of practitioners in China have been detained, imprisoned, and tortured for their belief in Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.
As practitioners in the United Kingdom are holding various events this month to raise awareness of the persecution and call for an end to the brutal treatment of their counterparts in China, many UK officials have written to practitioners to reaffirm their commitment in opposing the suppression and supporting innocent practitioners.
Rt Hon Sir Desmond Swayne TD MP sent greetings to practitioners.
Rt Hon Sir Desmond Swayne TD MP sent a “message of support to Falun Gong and all Chinese people in their struggle for freedom of association, thought and belief.”
Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate, OBE, considers the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong a genocide.
Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate, OBE, wrote, “Thank you for reminding the world, that as we come out of the COVID-19 pandemic, the erosion of human rights, freedom and the rule of law in China continues in the way that the Chinese Communist Party deals with its religious and ethnic minorities in that great country. It is truly shocking that in 2021 there is overwhelming evidence of treatment amounting to genocide, is taking place on an industrial scale in a developed country which sits on the UN Security Council. Atrocities on such a scale have not taken place since the middle of the last century and the world vowed then, that it would not be allowed to happen again.
“The evidence of re-education camps, gang rape, organ harvesting, torture and killings in China is overwhelming and is a clear policy of the CCP. This onslaught on freedoms, including the rights of the Falun Gong to practice their beliefs are an unacceptable attack on basic human rights in any so-called civilised country and I am glad to speak out with many others in calling for the taking of positive action by the world to bring these atrocities to an end!”
Professor David Patrick Paul Alton, Baron Alton of Liverpool, KCSG, KCMO
Professor David Patrick Paul Alton, Baron Alton of Liverpool, KCSG, KCMO, said, “Over the past two decades, and more, the Chinese Communist Party has waged a vicious war of attrition against Falun Gong practitioners. This is part of a pattern of persecution against all adherents of spiritual and religious movements which refuse to bend their knee to dictatorship and tyrannical ideology. Horrific evidence of forced organ harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners was presented to the Independent Tribunal chaired by Sir Geoffrey Nice QC.
“It concluded ‘unanimously, beyond reasonable doubt’ that there is ‘incontrovertible evidence’ that ‘very many people have died indescribably hideous deaths for no reason…’ that ‘There is no evidence of the practice having been stopped and the tribunal is satisfied that it is continuing.’ It found that ‘forced organ harvesting from prisoners of conscience has been practiced for a substantial period of time, involving a very substantial number of victims...by state organised or approved organisations or individuals’,” he added, “The international community should stop kow-towing, raise its voice, and demand that the persecution ends. The CCP regime must be held to account for its pernicious and brutal campaign against Falun Gong practitioners and others.”
Professor Margot Ruth Aline Lister, Baroness Lister of Burtersett, CBE, FBA, FacSS, wishes Falun Gong practitioners well.
Professor Margot Ruth Aline Lister, Baroness Lister of Burtersett, CBE, FBA, FacSS, wrote, “‘Truthfulness, compassion and tolerance’ are important principles not just in everyday life but also in politics. I’m therefore pleased to send you this brief message of support for Falun Dafa.”
Rt Revd Dr Alan Smith, The Lord Bishop of St Albans, highlights the importance of religious freedom.
Rt Revd Dr Alan Smith, The Lord Bishop of St Albans, wrote in his letter, “The continued tragic persecution of Falun Gong members along with other religious minorities across China is a situation of the deepest regret. Religious freedom is a human right deserving of universal respect. The Chinese Communist Party’s practise of faith based oppression ought to be collectively condemned in the strongest terms by those nations who profess and abide by the doctrine of human rights.”
Raymond Hervey Jolliffe, 5th Baron Hylton, ARICS, DL said the CCP suppresses nearly all belief systems.
Raymond Hervey Jolliffe, 5th Baron Hylton, ARICS, DL, agrees. “Nearly all non-Party religious groups are now under severe persecution in China. This is true of Christians, Muslims, Falun Gong/Dafa and no doubt others. The terms of the Sino-British Agreement on Hong-Kong are being violated by the Government,” he wrote, “We should all pray for a change of heart and mind amongst those in power.”
Wera Hobhouse MP says Truthfulness, Compassion and Tolerance are the solution to the situation we are facing.
Wera Hobhouse MP stated, “I stand with you to remember the thousands of victims past and present of persecution by the Chinese Communist Party. A society in which human rights and the freedom of religion is not protected is undemocratic and will never be free. Truthfulness, Compassion and Tolerance are the antidotes to the oppression of the Chinese Communist Party and I commend Falun Gong for standing up to these principles.”
Kerry McCarthy MP calls for Magnitsky-style sanctions against the CCP regime.
Kerry McCarthy MP wrote, “The persecution of those who practice Falun Gong - a faith based on the peaceful principles of tolerance and compassion - is appalling to see. I appreciate the efforts of those who have gathered today to highlight what is going on in China. We must bring an end to the attempted erasure of religious minorities, with the help of Magnitsky-style sanctions.
“Two months ago, Parliament voted to recognise that genocide was being committed against the Uyghur people in Xinjiang. And this week we debated China’s hosting of the Winter Olympics, again with an emphasis on China’s human rights record. Labour has called for a political boycott of those games,” she added, “We will continue to speak out against oppression, and make an unequivocal stand for human rights throughout the world.”
Norman Beresford Tebbit, Baron Tebbit, CH, PC, sent his greetings to practitioners.
Norman Beresford Tebbit, Baron Tebbit, CH, PC, said in his letter, “I offer my support and send a message of goodwill to the people of Falun Gong in their struggle to live peaceably in their Chinese homeland.”
Baroness Cox says she will stand with Falun Gong practitioners against the CCP.
Baroness Cox, Independent member of the House of Lords, also wrote a letter: “We are here at this rally to remember the millions of Falun Gong practitioners who continue to experience persecution from the Chinese Communist regime merely because of their faith. I am deeply concerned by the suffering of Falun Gong practitioners in China, and I have great respect for Falun Gong. I regret that I am unable to be with you today but please know that I stand with you in your quest for the freedom to practice your beliefs in China.”
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