Netherlands: Letter from Practitioner Denied a Passport by the Jiang Regime, Seeking Help from a Member of Parliament

3rd April 2003

Dear Ms. Mulder,

I write to you to request support from the Dutch Government in obtaining a passport from the Chinese embassy in The Hague. As you are already aware, my passport was stolen in September 2002. On the 1st November 2002, I applied for a new passport from the Chinese Embassy. However, five months have passed and I am now facing the danger of losing my nationality as well as my residency permit for the Netherlands.

Holding a passport and having a nationality is one the most fundamental human rights, as stated in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. As a member of the United Nations, China should also adhere to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The following three statements are relevant to my case:

• Article 15, 1, Everyone has the right to a nationality. 2, No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.


• Article 16, 1, Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution. 2, Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses. 3, The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.


• Article 18, 1, Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in a community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

My nationality is being taken away from me by the Chinese embassy. The reason for this is simply because of my belief in Falun Gong. On this issue the Chinese embassy has violated Article 15 and 18 mentioned above. My husband, Xu Fan, has also been denied the right to a passport and has been prevented from leaving China to reunite with me; this is a violation of Article 16.

Between 1st January 2001 and 1st May 2002, my husband was illegally detained in a labour camp in China because he practised Falun Gong. The last time I saw him was September 2000. Since then, my husband and I have been separated. When I think of his suffering, my heart is almost broken.

However, the violations to my human rights are trivial when compared to what had happened in China. You may have heard already heard of how an eight-month-old baby was tortured to death together with his 30-year-old mother because his mother practised Falun Gong. Brutal persecution against this group of peaceful and kind-hearted people is happening every day, every hour and every minute. I also fear that I will be subjected to similar persecution should I be forced to return to China.

I again appeal to you and the Dutch government to help me obtain a passport from the Chinese Embassy and to regain my nationality. I also appeal to the Dutch Government to help to stop the persecution against Falun Gong in China. Your help is highly appreciated.

I look forward to receiving your reply.

Yours sincerely,

[signed]