(Minghui.org) July 20, 2024, was 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, state parliament, and city councils, sent letters, responded to interviews, or addressed practitioners’ rallys to express their support for their efforts to expose the persecution.
Twenty-two German officials and dignitaries expressed their support for practitioners’ efforts to expose the CCP’s persecution.
Left to right first 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
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).
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
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
Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance Are Universal Values
Nadine Ruf MP, SPD spokesperson for the Subcommittee on Citizen Participation and member of the Committee on Family, Senior Citizens, Women, and Youth.
Nadine Ruf MP wrote to practitioners, “On the anniversary of the Falun Gong practitioners’ protesting the persecution on July 20, 2024, I would like to draw attention to China’s persecution of Falun Gong.
“Falun Gong’s basic values are Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, which are universal values of humanity and should be supported by those who firmly believe in human dignity and freedom. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Falun Gong practitioners for their courage to uphold their values despite years of imprisonment, torture, persecution, and threats of death.
“In July 1999, the CCP leadership banned Falun Gong. Since then, the CCP has been trying to eradicate Falun Gong through systematic persecution. Religious freedom conditions across China continue to deteriorate. In China, Falun Gong practitioners are imprisoned for their beliefs. During their [illegal] detention, they were tortured and mentally abused, and their organs were removed to coerce [Falun Gong practitioners] to give up their beliefs.
“Despite the ongoing persecution, the number of Falun Gong practitioners is still increasing.
“In a resolution on January 18, 2024, the European Parliament also called on China to stop persecuting Falun Gong practitioners and other persecuted groups such as the Uighur and Tibetan minorities; to immediately and unconditionally release Falun Gong practitioners; and to stop monitoring, controlling and persecuting religious freedom at home and abroad.
“In addition, the EU and its member states should publicly condemn China’s widespread illegal practices in organ transplantation. The EU should also use visa denials, asset freezes, expulsion from EU territory, and criminal prosecution based on extraterritorial jurisdiction and international law as sanctions against China.
“The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the universal, inalienable and indivisible human rights in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on May 10, 1948, which also applies to Falun Gong practitioners.
“I support calls for the Chinese government to respect and uphold international law, respect human rights and the right to freedom of religious belief, allow free international access to court hearings and prisons, and make China’s organ sourcing and transplants transparent.
“Religious belief and spiritual freedom are fundamental human rights and are essential to a free and just society. We must unite to build a world that respects freedom of religion and belief, human rights and freedom of expression.
“I particularly support the right of Falun Gong practitioners to freely practice their spiritual beliefs and worldview.”
Germany Should Follow the U.S. Resolution as An Example
Jürgen Braun, MP, spokesman for the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in the Human Rights Committee
Jürgen Braun, MP and chairman of the Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid Committee, sent a letter to express support for Falun Gong.
“Twenty-five years ago, on July 20, 1999, Jiang Zemin issued the order to ‘ruin [practitioners’] reputations, bankrupt [practitioners] financially, and destroy [practitioners] physically.’ That was how a group of CCP officials with absolute power began to persecute innocent citizens. About 100 million Falun Gong practitioners, who only wanted to gain physical and mental health through practicing, were harassed, imprisoned, tortured, and killed. In many cases, their organs were forcibly removed.
“We remember them. May the dead rest in peace, and may the wounds of the living heal. When I say ‘we,’ I mean all those who do not equate the Chinese people with the CCP rulers.
“We also have reason to be happy that the U.S. House of Representatives recently passed a resolution calling for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong and imposing severe sanctions on those involved in forced organ harvesting, including banning entry into the United States and confiscating property. Germany should follow this resolution as an example.
“July 20th is a sad day, but it may be the beginning of the end of communist rule.”
Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid Expresses Concern
Luise Amtsberg, MP of the Green Party and Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid in the Federal Foreign Ministry.
Luise Amtsberg, MP, and the Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid at the German Foreign Ministry, tweeted on the X platform: “On the 25th anniversary of the persecution of Falun Gong, I would like to remind everyone of the brutal persecution that has been going on since 1999. I support the European Parliament’s call for China and independent observers to conduct an investigation.”
The CCP Must Abide by the Human Rights Convention It Ratified
Dr. Michael Meister, MP from CDU
Dr. Michael Meister, MP, member of the Finance Committee of the Bundestag, and member of the Administrative Board of the Senckenberg Institute for Natural Research, was interviewed by NTD TV.
He said, “China has signed human rights treaties, and the international community must insist that China abide by the covenant it has signed. The persecution of people based on their beliefs, race, or other reasons is inconsistent with this, and detention and even torture of people is unacceptable. The international community must also make it clear that we insist that China abide by the covenant reached on human rights issues.
“If [Germany] communicates with China, then human rights issues must be on the agenda.” Meister MP emphasized that “coercive measures may be able to oppress for a long time, but they cannot permanently suppress people’s yearning for freedom and faith.
“Stick to faith and don’t give up hope.”
I Stand with Falun Gong
Dr. Günter Krings, MP of CDU
Dr. Günter Krings, MP of CDU, Member of the Legal Affairs Committee, legal policy spokesman for the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the Bundestag, and Chairman of the NRW regional group of the CDU/CSU, wrote to Falun Gong practitioners.
“On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the persecution of Falun Gong in China, I would like to express my solidarity and support to all members of the Falun Gong community. Unfortunately, for a quarter of a century, people have been persecuted in China for their beliefs and spiritual practices.
“Respect for freedom of religion or belief is a fundamental human right that must not be violated. The Falun Gong community has the right to practice its beliefs peacefully, without fear of persecution or discrimination.
“I stand with all those who suffer persecution and repression. The international community must pay attention to such human rights violations and work to uphold the fundamental rights of all.
“May this day help raise awareness of the importance of religious freedom and human rights. Let us work together to build a world of tolerance, respect for all beliefs and convictions, and that puts this freedom first.
“My heart goes out to all Falun Gong practitioners who have suffered persecution, and I hope that all people in the world can enjoy peace, justice and freedom. May such incidents never happen again, and may liberal values and respect for the dignity of every person be ensured.
“Dear Falun Gong practitioners, my heart goes out to you. May the courage and determination you have shown in these challenges bring you strength and hope. I stand with you in defending your rights and freedoms.”
The International Community Must Protect Falun Gong Practitioners
Dr. Jonas Geissler, MP of CSU and Member of the Human Rights Committee
Dr. Jonas Geissler, MP of the German Christian Social Union (CSU) and a member of the Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid Committee, sent a letter to express support for Falun Gong.
“Religious freedom is a core fundamental right and human right. No one has the right to restrict or infringe upon this right. No one can persecute others because of their personal worldview.
“Despite the international community’s attention and continued efforts for human rights reform, China’s persecution of Falun Gong continues.
“For 25 years, the Chinese government has been extremely harsh towards Falun Gong practitioners. Falun Gong practitioners have been persecuted, imprisoned, and tortured, and there have been reports of multiple killings. In 2006, it was first suspected that detained Falun Gong practitioners were victims of live organ harvesting. Subsequent extensive investigations have left everyone convinced of this crime.
“We continue to demand that China abide by the United Nations Charter of Human Rights that it has signed! Call on the Chinese government to immediately stop persecuting Falun Gong practitioners at home and abroad, release all detained Falun Gong practitioners, and take effective action to stop live organ harvesting!
“Because, in this world, no one has the right to decide the life of another! The right to life is universal and must be protected!
“As a member of the Human Rights Committee, I will continue to fight for this with all my strength in the future. The international community must continue to exert pressure to safeguard the human rights of Falun Gong practitioners. Only with continued attention and support can the situation be improved.”
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