(Minghui.org) July 20, 2024 is the 25th anniversary of the Falun Gong practitioners’ efforts to end the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution. On that date, eight Danish parliamentarians, alternate parliamentarians and former parliamentarians signed the “Joint Statement Calling for an End to the 25-Year Persecution of Falun Gong in China” initiated by the Friends of Falun Gong (FOFG) and participated in by politicians from 15 countries.

They are:Jan E. Jørgensen, MP of the Danish Liberal Party (the former ruling party)

Søren Espersen, MP of the Danish Democratic Party, former Vice Chairman of the Parliament and Chairman of the Parliamentary Religion Committee

Kenneth Fredslund Petersen, MP of the Danish Democratic Party

Hans Kristian Skibby, MP of the Danish Democratic Party and chairman of the Parliamentary Environment and Food Committee

Per Larsen, MP of the Danish Conservative Party

Runa Friis Hansen, alternate MP of the Red-Green Alliance

Morten Messerschmidt, MP of the Danish People’s Party, chairman of the People’s Party, former MP of the European Parliament, Danish co-chair of IPAC (Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China)

Kenneth Kristensen Berth, former MP of the Danish People’s Party, and Secretary General of the People’s Party.

First row from left: Jan E. Jørgensen, MP of the Danish Liberal Party (the former ruling party); Søren Espersen, MP of the Danish Democratic Party, former Vice Chairman of the Parliament and Chairman of the Parliamentary Religious Committee; Kenneth Fredslund Petersen, MP of the Danish Democratic Party; Hans Kristian Skibby, MP of the Danish Democratic Party and Chairman of the Parliamentary Environment and Food Committee.

Second row from left: Per Larsen, MP of the Danish Conservative Party; Runa Friis Hansen, alternate MP of the Red-Green Alliance; Morten Messerschmidt, MP of the Danish People’s Party, chairman of the People’s Party, former MP of the European Parliament, Danish co-chair of IPAC (Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China); Kenneth Kristensen Berth, former MP of the Danish People’s Party, secretary general of the People’s Party.

The joint statement read, “We strongly condemn the 25 years of human rights abuses against Falun Gong practitioners in China.

“We understand that Falun Gong (a.k.a. Falun Dafa) is a spiritual meditation practice based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. The 20th of July 2024 marks 25 years since the Chinese Communist Party launched a systematic and brutal campaign to 'eradicate' Falun Gong. Since July 1999, millions of Falun Gong practitioners in China have been arbitrarily arrested and jailed without due process and many have been tortured and even killed. At the very least, thousands have died as a result of such torture and other abuses in police custody.”

The statement also mentioned that the European Parliament and the U.S. Congress recently promoted resolutions condemning the persecution of Falun Gong within their respective jurisdictions and have taken measures to end the persecution.

The joint statement concluded that “We, the undersigned, therefore urge the Chinese government to respect international norms and legal obligations, including the United Nations Convention Against Torture, which China has ratified, and to immediately stop the 25-year-long persecution of Falun Gong in China, and to unconditionally release all detained Falun Gong practitioners and other prisoners of conscience.”

The campaign to collect signatures from politicians from various countries for this joint statement will continue after July 20 and may be extended until 2025.