German Falun Gong Practitioner Detained, Arrested and Released as Renowned Icelandic Human Rights Lawyer Intervenes
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -
June 11, 2002 [ http://www.faluninfo.net/
] LONDON, June 11, 2002 (European Falun Dafa Information
Centre) - On June 10, The Associated Press reported that a school building has
been set aside to serve as a makeshift detention center for any Falun Gong
practitioners who arrive in Iceland and seek entry during president Jiang's
visit.
According to phone calls from Falun Gong practitioners
seeking entry into Iceland, 20 Taiwanese passport holders were stopped at the
Iceland border on Monday, June 10, and moved to the school building-turned
detention center.
U.S. and Canadian citizens who arrived at Iceland's airport
this morning called from cell phones saying they had been detained and were
being loaded onto a bus and driven to the makeshift detention center. Among
the group of 20 or so arriving at the airport at the time of the call, at
least six are U.S. citizens and at least three are Canadian citizens.
Another 20-40 Taiwanese passport holders were also detained
today as they sought entry into Iceland.
German Citizen Released on June 10 After Being Arrested
at Iceland Airport
In a bizarre series of events, Peter Recknagel, 30, a
German citizen and Falun Gong practitioner, was detained, released, then
formally arrested without reason and finally released again by Icelandic
police at the Iceland airport.
Mr. Recknagel arrived in Iceland Monday afternoon on a
plane from Frankfurt, Germany, and was promptly detained and questioned about
his affiliation with the Falun Gong spiritual practice. His name appeared on a
list officials at the airport were using to check passengers arriving in the
country, Mr. Recknagel says.
After an hour of questioning, Mr. Recknagel was released.
As he was waiting for a bus outside the airport, however, police detained him
once again, escorting him back into their offices at the airport.
This time, Mr. Recknagel says, he was informed that he had
been formally arrested. His belongings were confiscated and searched. He was
not allowed to contact the German Embassy. The officials told Mr. Recknagel
that they had known his name, flight number and personal information prior to
his arrival in Iceland.
At approximately 9 PM, Mr. Recknagel's fiancée, Lillian
Staf, who had been in Iceland already for several days, contacted a well-known
Icelandic human rights lawyer, Mr. Ragnar Adalfson. "Mr. Adalfson made a
call to the Ministry of Civil Affairs," says Ms. Staf, "and told
them that what they were doing was blatantly illegal. Peter was released
shortly afterwards."
During his detainment at the airport, Mr. Recknagel says
officials apologized for their behaviour, adding that his arrest had been a
"mistake," and that orders had come "from above:" The
police chief at the airport explained that it had not been in his power to
decide what to do about the situation.
Background
Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a practice of
meditation and exercises with teachings based on the universal principle of
"Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance." It is a practice that was
taught in private for thousands of years before being made public in 1992 by
Mr. Li Hongzhi. Falun Gong has roots in traditional Chinese culture, but it is
distinct and separate from other practices such as the religions of Buddhism
and Taoism. Since its introduction in 1992, it quickly spread by word of mouth
throughout China, and is now practiced in over 50 countries.
With government estimates of as many as 100 million
practicing Falun Gong, China's President Jiang Zemin outlawed the peaceful
practice in July 1999, fearful of anything touching the hearts and minds of
more citizens than the Communist Party. Unable to crush the spirit of millions
who had experienced improved health and positive life changes from Falun Gong,
Jiang's regime has intensified its propaganda campaign to turn public opinion
against the practice while quietly imprisoning, torturing and even murdering
those who practice it.
The Falun Dafa Information Centre has verified details of
over 422 deaths since the persecution of Falun Gong in China began in 1999.
Government officials inside China, however, report that the actual death toll
is well over 1,600. Over 100,000 have been detained, with more than 20,000
being sentenced to forced labor camps without trial.
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FOR MORE INFO, CONTACT THE EUROPEAN FALUN GONG INFORMATION CENTRE - English:
Peter Jauhal +44 799 054 1284, Additional contacts: http://www.falungonginfo.net/europe.htm
Email: europe@falungonginfo.net
Website: http://www.clearharmony.net
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Category: Falun Dafa in the Media
