July 20 marks the 24th anniversary of the persecution of Falun Gong by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). On this dark milestone, we shed light on the unwavering resilience and courage exhibited by the practice’s adherents that extend far beyond China’s borders and seeps into societies across the globe — including in the United States, the European Union (EU), and the United Kingdom.
Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, (法輪大法), is a spiritual discipline that combines meditation exercises coupled with a philosophy centered around the tenets of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance (真善忍). Practitioners follow these guiding principles to cultivate righteous virtues, improve their character, and elevate their moral standing and character (心性) through interpersonal and social conflicts.
Despite its peaceful and apolitical nature, CCP officials spearheaded by then-party head, Jiang Zemin, launched a merciless and systematic suppression of the practice in 1999 after witnessing its rapid rise in popularity as a threat to its authoritarian regime.
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Since the persecution began, thousands of Falun Gong adherents have perished at the hands of Chinese police — with the real number of deaths speculated to be much higher.
According to Minghui, a U.S.-based website that documents the persecution of Falun Gong, more than 4,000 practitioners have been tortured and persecuted to death, with the number continuing to rise. Many Falun Gong adherents living outside of China have also been routinely subject to harassment, electronic surveillance, travel bans, as well as arbitrary arrests and imprisonment.
Introduction to the world
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First introduced to the public in the northeastern Chinese city of Changchun by Master Li Hongzhi in 1992, Falun Gong quickly developed a global presence — spanning more than 80 countries across five continents. The practice’s teachings have also been made accessible in over 40 languages.
In 1995, Mr. Li began to share his teachings on a global platform — delivering his inaugural lecture at the Chinese embassy in Paris at the request of the Chinese ambassador to France. This initial seven-day course in Paris marked the beginning of a series of educational sessions which were held in various Swedish cities including Gothenburg, Stockholm, and Uddevalla. Mr. Li’s teachings were subsequently disseminated in various countries including the U.S., U.K., Australia, Germany, New Zealand, Canada, Singapore, and Switzerland.
In the U.K., the practice was brought to the public in 1996. To facilitate learning and practice, free classes are regularly offered throughout the country, and gatherings organized for practitioners to share their experiences and learn from each other are also routinely held.
Crimes against humanity
A major concern related to the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners is the widespread allegation of forced organ harvesting.
Multiple independent investigations suggest that this heinous and lucrative practice for the Chinese regime has been going on for many years. Reports also suggest that in many cases, organs were harvested from non-consenting Falun Gong practitioners and other prisoners of conscience who were still alive and conscious at the time of surgery.
RELATED: Texas Takes Stand Against Organ Harvesting in China With Groundbreaking Legislation
“I think the challenge of the rise of China absolutely raises huge questions for the future of the Western alliance,” writes M15 Director General in regards to the CCP’s national security threats against the U.K., adding, “None of us can give a confident long-term answer to exactly how the balance of power plays out globally across the next few decades but it is clear for all of us that this is, I think, the central intelligence challenge for us across the next decade.”
Bolstering legislative action
The issue of forced organ harvesting has been taken up by international bodies such as the United Nations and the European Parliament, which have called for transparency and accountability from the Chinese government. However, despite such calls, concrete proof remains elusive due to the secretive and stringent control of information within China’s borders.
“China sees almost all of its global activity in the context of what it sees as the struggle between the United States and China, and therefore it sees the United Kingdom fundamentally through that optic,” says The Chair of the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) in the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament of the U.K.
In 2021, the UK’s Human Tissue Act of 2004 was successfully amended to introduce legislation that restricts British citizens from traveling overseas for the purpose of organ transplantation. The two-part bill also prohibits insurance plans from covering treatments for surgeries and transplants tied to countries with coercive organ harvesting practices.
Beyond China’s borders
In recent years, the targeting and harassment of Falun Gong practitioners in other countries, including the United Kingdom, has also worsened. Evidence of this trend has emerged in the form of sporadic incidents, such as harassment at public Falun Gong events, slander and vilification of the practice in local Chinese language media, and pressure on politicians to refrain from publicly supporting Falun Gong.
RELATED: Thugs Who Attacked Falun Gong Practitioners in Hong Kong Sentenced for Property Damage
Such incidents underscore the extensive reach of the CCP’s campaign against Falun Gong, which in some cases, extend beyond China’s borders. Adherents of the practice around the globe face similar challenges — not just from the persecution they or their families may have experienced or continue to face in China — but also from the insidious spread of the CCP’s influence in their adoptive homes.
Unwavering faith
Despite these dark circumstances, however, Falun Gong practitioners around the world continue to respond with kindness and resilience — advocating for the right to practice their beliefs freely, and without fear of oppression or persecution.
As the world reflects on the 24th anniversary of the CCP’s persecution against Falun Gong in China and elsewhere, we are reminded that our pursuit of human rights, dignity, and freedom is an ongoing battle. In response, we call on governments and advocacy groups worldwide to promote human rights and uphold religious freedom across all corners of the globe.
