English Minghui.org

March 01, 2001

[Finland] Hufvudstadsbladet: "Falun Gong Problem Also for the West" and "The Persecution Must End."

On January 31, 2001, the Finnish newspaper, Hufvudstadsbladet (News for Swedish speakers), had a headline " Falun Gong Problem Also for the West" and "The Persecution Must End."

Mr. Schechter who wrote the book Falun Gong' Challenge to China, Spiritual Practice or Evil Cult was interviewed in Helsinki, Finland by the reporter for Hufvudstadsbladet, Jeanette Bjoerkqvist. The reporter also interviewed a practitioner to get a more clear understand of the situation in China and to understand more about Falun Gong.

European Parliament Passes Resolution Condemning the Chinese Government's Persecution of Falun Gong

[Minghui Net] On February 15, 2001, in a plenary session, the European Parliament passed a resolution supporting the freedom of belief and religion in China. The resolution points out that, due to the Chinese government' persecution of Falun Gong during the past two years, over 50,000 Falun Gong practitioners have been arrested and more than 25,000 have been imprisoned, sent to labor camps, or committed to psychiatric hospitals. At least137 have been tortured to death. The resolution calls on the Chinese government to release all innocent people that have been detained for peacefully exercising internationally recognized rights of freedom of belief and religion. The resolution calls on the Chinese government to guarantee certain freedoms granted by its own constitution, such as the freedoms of belief, speech, assembly, and association. The resolution points out that, although China endorsed the United Nations' "International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights" and "International Covenant on Economic and Social-Cultural Rights," it has not abided by them. The resolution also urges the European Parliament and its members to submit proposals to the United Nations' Human Rights Committee in Geneva, which would condemn the Chinese government for violently depriving the freedom of belief from its citizens, including Falun Gong practitioners.