UK: Human Rights Officials Send Letters of Support Commemorating the 25th Anniversary of April 25 Appeal in China

(Minghui.org) Falun Gong practitioners in the UK held a rally opposite the Prime Minister’s Office in Downing Street, London on April 20, 2024 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the peaceful appeal by 10,000 practitioners in China on April 25, 1999. The office of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and several members of the British House of Lords and House of Commons sent letters to express support. 

MP Supports Practitioners’ Peaceful Resistance Against the Persecution

Two human rights officials also sent letters of support. One is Fiona Bruce MP, Member of Parliament for the Congleton Constituency, the chair of the 42 country International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance; the other is Benedict Rogers, Co-founder of the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission. 

Fiona Bruce MP wrote that she was sorry that she could not take part in the rally on April 20 as she was abroad. She reiterated her support for the Falun Gong Community: “However, be assured of my continued support for your campaign and for all those of the Falun Gong Community who are unjustly suffering.” 

Fiona Bruce MP 

Letter from the office of Fiona Bruce’s office

Co-founder of Conservative Party Human Rights Commission: I Stand with Falun Gong Practitioners

Benedict Rogers sent a letter praising Falun Gong’s principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance and expressing support for practitioners’ peaceful efforts to end the persecution. 

Benedict Rogers, co-founder of Conservative Party Human Rights Commission

He wrote, “As we commemorate the 25th anniversary of the peaceful appeal by 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners to the Chinese government for their basic right to practice their beliefs, I want to say loud and clear: I stand in total solidarity with Falun Gong practitioners. 

“I am appalled, outraged and heartbroken by the brutal, barbaric, inhumane, cruel and criminal persecution of peaceful, gentle Falun Gong practitioners who embody and live out their values of ‘Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance’.

“And let’s be clear – those values of “truthfulness, compassion and forbearance” (or “tolerance”) are not solely Falun Gong values. They are universal values. As a Christian, these are values which my faith also teaches me to uphold, honour and adhere to. People of all faiths and none can embrace these values.

“Since I first became engaged with advocacy for persecuted Falun Gong practitioners almost a decade ago, I have met and come to know dozens of practitioners. They are my friends. And in every single one of them, without exception, I have encountered only generosity, hospitality, humanity, humility, kindness, intelligence and love. 

“Yet for these beautiful virtues, so many thousands have been persecuted, jailed, discriminated against, tortured or killed. 

“And of course they have suffered the crime against humanity of forced organ harvesting, which in 2019 the China Tribunal led by Sir Geoffrey Nice KC – for which I was privileged in a small way to help be a catalyst – concluded after extensive hearings and evidence that this atrocity is happening on a widespread scale.

“A regime that locks up and tortures people because they believe in “truthfulness, compassion and forbearance” is not a regime that can be a reliable business partner. A regime that forcibly harvests human organs is not a regime that can be a trusted friend. A regime that breaks promises under international agreements – as it has done to Hong Kong; ...this is not a regime with which we can simply do business as usual.

“This is a regime that poses perhaps the biggest challenge of our time. It is a challenge which Falun Gong practitioners helped bring to our attention 25 years ago. And it is a challenge we must confront.

“So I repeat my solidarity as we mark this anniversary. And I renew my determination to continue this struggle.

Finally he wrote: “For the freedom and human dignity of Falun Gong practitioners – and for all peoples of China and the world who believe in humanity, human dignity, human rights and human freedom. I stand with you all. And I stand with you for Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance.”