(Minghui.org) July 20, 2024 is the 25th anniversary of Falun Gong practitioners’ efforts to end the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution. Twenty-two German officials and dignitaries, including members of the European Parliament, federal parliament, and state parliament, along with city councilors, sent letters, received interviews, or addressed the practitioners’ rally to express their support for the practitioners’ efforts to expose the persecution.
Twenty-two German officials and dignitaries expressed their support for practitioners’ efforts to expose the CCP’s persecution.
From left to right top row: Frank Schwabe, Member of Parliament (MP) of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD); Dr. Stefan Berger (CDU), Member of the European Parliament (MEP); Astrid Damerow, MP; Anne König, MP; Elisabeth Winkelmeier-Becker, MP; and Jürgen Braun MP
From left to right second row: Dr. Günter Krings, MP; Nadine Ruf, MP; Sabine Weiss, MP; Dr. Michael Meister, MP; Dr. Jonas Geissler, MP; René Domke, Speaker of the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern State Parliament of the German Free Democratic Party (FDP)
From left to right third row: Stefan Engstfeld (Green Party), member of the North Rhine-Westphalia State Parliament; Oliver Stirböck, member of the Hesse State Parliament; Dr. Marcus Optendrenk, member of the North Rhine-Westphalia State Parliament; Vanessa Odermatt (CDU), member of the North Rhine-Westphalia State Parliament; Frank Börner, member of the North Rhine-Westphalia State Parliament
From left to right fourth row: Dirk Bamberger, member of the Hesse State Parliament; Ronald Gläser, member of the Berlin State Parliament; Dr. Bastian Bergerhoff, member of the Frankfurt City Council; Luise Amtsberg, MP; Karl-Josef Laumann, member of the North Rhine-Westphalia State Parliament
Commissioner for Global Freedom of Religion: Falun Gong Should Be Protected
Frank Schwabe, MP of SPD, Commissioner for Global Freedom of Religion
Frank Schwabe MP wrote to Falun Gong practitioners, “As the 25th anniversary of Falun Gong practitioners’ resistance to the persecution approaches, we must once again do our utmost to draw attention to the terrible fate of these people in China.
“A society that excludes acceptance of other religions, worldviews and spiritual beliefs from its life may strengthen violence and weaken social cohesion.
“Practicing Falun Gong should never be a reason for persecution. The spiritual practice path has a history of thousands of years, and Falun Gong should be protected like other religions, spiritual beliefs or worldviews. We must never let these important components of Chinese traditional culture disappear.
“The fact that Falun Gong practitioners have been persecuted for many years and are currently being persecuted is beyond discussion. In January 2024, the European Parliament passed a resolution on the continued persecution of Falun Gong, which specifically pointed out that there is evidence that thousands of Falun Gong practitioners have died in persecution by the Chinese authorities since 1999; Falun Gong practitioners are often detained and tortured and mentally abused.
“There are many reports of human rights violations, harassment, illegal detention and so-called re-education. So far, the Chinese authorities have not been able to and cannot refute these reports. In addition, the allegations of illegal organ harvesting from detained Falun Gong practitioners are simply unbelievable. All of this makes me deeply worried.
“In June this year, the US House of Representatives passed the Falun Gong Protection Act. A key provision of the bill requires the United States to work with its allies to pay attention to China’s persecution of Falun Gong and prepare a detailed report on possible organ trafficking.
“I hope these measures will help shed light on this issue. My work as a commissioner focuses on transnational persecution, that is, foreign intelligence agencies monitor, threaten and attack people living in Germany.
“On April 22 this year, the Federal Attorney General in Dresden arrested a Chinese employee Jian G. of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) politician Maximilian Krah. The 43-year-old Jian G. was accused of passing internal information about negotiations and decisions of the European Parliament to the Chinese intelligence department on many occasions in January this year.
“I would like to draw your attention to the fact that when one human freedom is threatened, all other freedoms are also under pressure. Freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of occupation, freedom of travel, freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of ideology - they do not exist independently, they are always interconnected and intertwined.
“I once again call on the Chinese government to uphold international law and protect human rights and the right to freely practice religion and beliefs. I wish the [July 20 stop the persecution] event a complete success. Please believe that I will continue to serve you and will work with you to promote the right to freely practice religion, spiritual beliefs and worldviews.”
MEP: The European Union Condemns the CCP’s Organ Transplant Abuse
Dr. Stefan Berger MEP
Dr. Stefan Berger MEP wrote to the practitioners. He wrote that in China, it is impossible to talk about July 20, 1999, the anniversary of the Falun Gong practitioners’ protesting the CCP’s persecution. “Therefore, it is particularly important to remind European and non-European countries of the human rights violations against Falun Gong that began on this day.
“The EU is determined to promote democracy and human rights in its international relations based on its fundamental pillars of freedom, democracy, respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law. As the EU Parliament, we must work to publicly condemn China’s abuse of organ transplants and use the EU’s global human rights sanctions system to sanction all criminals and entities involved in the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China and abroad.
“The history of human rights is also a history of constant struggle for their implementation. ‘All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood’- this is the first article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In this spirit, we in the EU must take decisive action on the world stage against countries like China and take firm action against human rights violations such as the suppression of Falun Gong.”
Reminding People to Pay Attention to Falun Gong
Astrid Damerow MP
Astrid Damerow MP wrote to Falun Gong practitioners, “We are deeply saddened on the 25th anniversary of the persecution of Falun Gong. This is a day to stop and remember the thousands of people who have died in China over the past 25 years because of practicing Falun Gong.
“Although many Western countries and the European Union have condemned the Chinese government, the situation of Falun Gong practitioners in China has not improved. Falun Gong practitioners have not only been imprisoned, abused and tortured, but also become victims of organ harvesting.
“This is unimaginable for people living in countries that respect human rights. It is important to constantly remind people to pay attention to the fate of these people and demand that the (CCP) stop persecuting them.”
The CCP Must Stop Persecuting Falun Gong
Anne König MP
Anne König MP wrote to Falun Gong practitioners, “The day has come again when [the CCP began] to commit crimes against Falun Dafa and Falun Gong practitioners. We once again commemorate those who have been discriminated against, oppressed, persecuted and imprisoned by the Chinese [communist] authorities. This year marks the 25th year.
“As the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, we stand with those affected by persecution, imprisonment and re-education around the world. Falun Gong practitioners have been subjected to large-scale persecution for a quarter of a century. We express our deepest sympathy and support to them.
“The persecution and exploitation of Falun Gong practitioners is almost unimaginable. The worst example may be the illegal organ harvesting of detained Falun Gong practitioners. As the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, we call on [the CCP] to uphold international law and stop the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners.
“Freedom to practice religion is a fundamental human right and indispensable to a free and just society. Therefore, let us take this opportunity to commemorate the victims of persecution and work to ensure that freedom of religion and belief, human rights and freedom of expression are respected. May the Falun Gong practitioners’ commemoration inspire us to work courageously and fearlessly for a free society, including in China.”
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