French and Swedish News Media Reports on Persecution of Falun Gong

Marking the 18th year since the suppression of Falun Gong began in China, several French and Swedish newspapers have recently published articles about the persecution.

First introduced in China in 1992, Falun Gong is currently practised in many countries throughout the world, including France and Sweden.

France
L'Obs, known as the most prominent French general information magazine, published an article about Falun Gong in its July supplement issue. Titled “Falun Gong, A Qigong of Resistance,” the article stated, “In China, after encouraging its development, the [communist] regime decided to eradicate it, as shown in the terrifying repression of the famous meditation system, Falun Gong.”

The article noted that “Falun Gong is not the first school of qigong to fall out of favor, but is the first to resist. To the amazement of the authorities, followers massively refuse to comply.” ... “Seventeen years later, Falun Gong remains the most persecuted group in China – which is not trivial.”

The article says that Falun Gong practitioners have suffered persecution similar to that experienced by the early Christians, “condemned to live underground but who decided to testify to their faith peacefully, even suffer martyrdom after severe torture at the time of Nero. There is no doubt that the Falungong [sic] method gives those who practice exceptional courage and remarkable resilience.”

The author later noted that China is the largest police state in history, and the persecution of Falun Gong has become a real industry with monitoring devices and sprawling repression. This includes “black jails” for extra-legal detentions, forced labor camps dedicated and – horror of horrors – a complete system for harvesting organs from prisoners of conscience. After allegations of forced organ harvesting were supported by independent sources, “international transplant professionals have begun taken actions on this.”

The article concludes by noting that Falun Gong is not only present in China, but also practiced around the world. “And it will play a major role for the future of China.”

Sweden
Several newspapers in Sweden recently published articles on the persecution of Falun Gong in China around July 20. Norrbottens-Kuriren, the oldest newspaper in the region, carried an article on July 20 with the title “Why is Falun Gong pursued in China?”

“Truth, compassion, and tolerance is the essence of Falun Gong's philosophy of life. In addition, qigong and meditation exercises are done as well. Body and mind go together; therefore, you want to put down negative thoughts such as jealousy and anxiety, let go of ego and become a better and more caring person,” reported the article.

Because of its benefits, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) accepted Falun Gong after its introduction in China in 1992. “Any normal government would like citizens who think more about others and want to follow a good moral in life.”

But on July 20, 1999, Party leader Jiang Zemin launched a cruel persecution of Falun Gong. “The CCP estimated the number of practitioners to be 70-100 million, more than there were members of the party. It [Falun Gong] was seen as a threat.”

Another reason of the suppression is because Falun Gong's principles are consistent with traditional Chinese culture, something the CCP has tried to destroy since they came to power decades ago. “Falun Gong's teachings revive the traditional culture. Therefore, [Falun Gong's core principles of] truth, compassion, and tolerance scare the CCP."

By controlling the media in China, the CCP has spread lies about Falun Gong, even abroad. A Gestapo-type organization, the 610 Office, was launched in 1999, whose sole task is to pursue Falun Gong.

“We hope that the more people that know what Falun Gong is and what is happening in China, the faster the persecution will end,” stated the article.

Similar articles were also published in Norrländska Socialdemokraten (NSD), the largest newspaper in the region and Folkbladet.