Letter from Roger Helmer MEP to the UK’s French Ambassador Regarding “a serious violation of basic human rights” in Paris

2nd March 2004

Dear Mr Gompertz (French Ambassador to UK),

Thank you for swift response to my letter regarding the treatment of Falun Gong practitioners at the Chinese New Year celebrations in Paris. However I regret to say that your letter does not do much to subdue my concerns.

The allegations in question are that the Parisian authorities arrested, and not simply stopped for identity checks, handcuffed and detained several UK Falun Gong practitioners for up to five hours until after the afternoon’s parade had finished. When questioned as to the grounds on which the arrests were made, the authorities explained that it was due to the wearing of yellow scarves and fleeces with the words Falun Gong on them.

You further state in your letter that Falun Gong, as a registered association, enjoys, with due regard for public order, freedom of expression and association. This being the case, I fail to see why the practitioners were arrested in light of no obvious disregard for public order. As I stressed in my earlier letter, these allegations, if true, amount to a serious violation of basic human rights. I very much look forward to you response and the findings of the investigation launched by the Interior Ministry.

Yours sincerely,

Roger Helmer MEP