German Member of Parliament: “I Assure You that We Will Continue to Fight for the Release of Renzheng Jiang.”

Jiang Renzheng, his wife and two small children were deported to Beijing from Würzburg (Germany) in March 2005. Following his deportation, Jiang Renzheng was sentenced to three years of forced labour and is now being detained in a labour camp in the city of Benxi because of his Falun Gong practice and the attendant accusation of “endangering public security.” His wife was forced into hiding because of her imminent arrest. The whole family has been torn apart and the children are often sick.

Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid Committee, Committee Chair, Hermann Gröhe (Member of Parliament) and Consultant, Dr. Gudula Gutman, Berlin October the 24th 2005.

Dear Madam,

Thank you for your letter of October 17th 2005, in which you state your support of the Renzheng Jiang family. The Chair of the CDU/CSU Party has forwarded your letter to me since I am the responsible spokesman for human rights and humanitarian aid of our party.

We have been aware of the Renzheng Jiang family’s case since October of last year. The case has been brought in front of the courts you mentioned in addition to the Ministry of the Interior, the Foreign Ministry, and the Committee on Petitions of the German Parliament. The Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid Committee has also dealt with the current situation of Falun Gong practitioners in China during a session on June 29, 2005. The members of the committee presented the matter of Renzheng Jiang’s family to the Chinese Ambassador in Berlin.

The Foreign Office has been working for Mr. Renzheng Jiang’s release from the labour camp in Benxi for months. In a reversal of its decision on Nov. 19th 2004, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees has identified an obstacle against deportation pursuant to paragraph 5 of the immigration laws. According to this law, a foreigner cannot be deported if it is determined that it violates the Convention to Protect Human Rights and Fundamental Freedom (BGFBL. 1952 II S. 685) of Nov. 4, 1950. This decision went into law on September the 16th 2005.

I assure you that we will continue to demand the release of Renzheng Jiang.
Sincerely,

Hermann Gröhe, Member of Parliament