Canada: Quebec Court of Appeal Issues Verdict that La Presse Chinoise is Guilty of Libel in Defamation of Falun Gong

According to the Epoch Times, on May 14th, 2008, the Quebec Court of Appeal issued a verdict on the La Presse Chinoise defamation lawsuit, ruling that the newspaper was guilty of libel in carrying articles defaming Falun Gong. This overruled the verdict of the Quebec Superior Court.

Mr. Claude Almonde Sheppard, the lawyer for the plaintiffs, said that it was an important victory.

Well-known human rights lawyer David Matas commented that in cases of libel of a group, it is hard for members of the group to get compensation. However, through the human rights court they can get compensation. This ruling can also be used by prosecutors to target the defendant for criminal charges.

Mr. Matas said that the La Presse Chinoise defamation is the same as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) defamation. The significance is in the greater meaning of this verdict, which underscores that the CCP's propaganda against Falun Gong is understood to be lies and slander. The case also indicates that the CCP's defamation of Falun Gong is illegal.

Lawsuit background

The Chinese newspaper La Presse Chinoise has published articles defaming and slandering Falun Gong and Falun Gong practitioners since November 3rd, 2001. On December 7th, 2001, Falun Gong practitioners in eastern Canada filed a lawsuit against the newspaper. The court issued an order to ban the newspaper and He Bin from publishing similar articles against Falun Gong.

The lawsuit lasted for four years. The Quebec Superior Court held hearings several times. In November 2003, the hearings concluded.

However, the verdict was not issued within six months as the judge promised. On December 7th, 2005, over two years after the final hearing, the court issued the verdict, saying that the plaintiffs' evidence was not sufficient to draw a conclusion.

The practitioners filed an appeal to the Quebec Court of Appeal, the highest court in Quebec. The court issued its verdict on May 14, ruling La Presse Chinoise guilty of libel.