As reported in an article published in Bitter Winter by Yang Feng, according to a Falun Gong report, in 2023, 1,188 worshippers were sentenced to death, while 209 were killed. The thorny issue of organ harvesting to which Falun Gong worshippers sentenced to death are subjected, but also believers of other religions such as Uyghur Muslims and Christians of the Church of Almighty God, has come to the attention of the European Parliament which, on 18 January 2024 passed a resolution on the persecution of Falun Gong in China. Below is the text of the resolution.
European Parliament resolution of 18 January 2024 on the ongoing persecution of Falun Gong in China, notably the case of Mr Ding Yuande (2024/2504(RSP))
European Parliament, Strasbourg (pixabay.com)
The European Parliament,
- having regard to its previous resolutions on China,
- having regard to Rules 144(5) and 132(4) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas since 1999, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has engaged in systematic persecution to eradicate the Falun Gong religious movement; whereas freedom of religious belief is deteriorating across the People’s Republic of China (PRC); whereas technology-based censorship and surveillance are central to this repression; whereas Article 36 of the PRC’s Constitution stipulates that its citizens must enjoy freedom of religious belief;
B. whereas it is documented that thousands of Falun Gong practitioners have died as a result of the CCP’s persecution since 1999; whereas practitioners are frequently detained and reportedly subjected to torture, psychological abuse and organ harvesting so that they renounce their faith;
C. whereas on 12 May 2023 Falun Gong practitioners Mr Ding Yuande and his wife Ms Ma Ruimei were arrested without a warrant; whereas Ms Ma was released on bail, but was then intimidated by police because of a rescue campaign launched by their son abroad;
D. whereas Mr Ding was detained with no family visits for eight months; whereas on 15 December 2023 he was sentenced to three years in prison with a CNY 15 000 fine; whereas he appealed the judgment;
- Strongly urges the PRC to immediately end the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners and other minorities, including Uyghurs and Tibetans; demands the immediate and unconditional release of Mr Ding and all Falun Gong practitioners in China;
- Calls for the PRC to end domestic and transnational surveillance and control and the suppression of religious freedom; urges the PRC to abide by its obligations under international law and its own constitution to respect and protect human rights;
- Calls on the EU Member States to suspend extradition treaties with the PRC;
- Stresses that respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law should be at the centre of the EU’s relations with China; calls for the EU and its Member States to support and facilitate an international investigation into the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners and raise the persecution of religious minorities during all political and human rights dialogues with the Chinese authorities; calls on the Member States and the EU Delegation to the PRC to monitor trials;
- Calls for the EU and its Member States to publicly condemn organ transplant abuses in China and to use the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime and national human rights sanctions regimes against all perpetrators and entities that have contributed to the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China and abroad; stresses that EU measures should include refusing visas, freezing assets, expulsion from EU territories, criminal prosecution, including on the basis of extraterritorial jurisdiction, and bringing international criminal charges;
- Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the EU institutions, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, and the Government and Parliament of the PRC.
Source: European Parliament
