CHAN:
In our top story today: Members of a spiritual group that's brutally persecuted in China are facing increasing levels of discrimination in Russia, and it's from their own government.
STORY:
On December 23, the Russian Ministry of Justice added several books to its list of what it calls "extremist publications."
Among them is the Russian edition of a book called Zhuan Falun, the main text of the Falun Gong spiritual practice. The book outlines the tenets of Falun Gong, which is also called Falun Dafa.
[Sun Lezhi, Russian Falun Dafa Association]:
"The book is about how to follow the principles of truthfulness, compassion and tolerance. After reading this book many people have quit using drugs and alcohol and stopped smoking. This book can help raise the morality of human society, and it has been published around the world. It brings society 100 percent good, and no harm."
So is this book an "extremist publication"? That's what Russian courts decided in a secret hearing, and the decision allowed the Ministry of Justice to add it to the extremist list. Being on this list means anyone caught selling it or owning it can be fined.
The Russian Falun Dafa Association says this action follows a pattern of discrimination against Falun Gong adherents' human rights in Russia.
[Sun Lezhi, Russian Falun Dafa Association]:
"The decision of the court in Krasnodar and the actions of Ministry of Justice are illegal and baseless, we dont acknowledge it and are going to file an appeal."
This book Zhuan Falun has been published in more than 40 languages. Its author, Mr. Li Hongzhi, has been twice nominated for the Nobel Prize.
[Irina Oshirova, Russian Falun Dafa Association]:
"I have been cultivating for about 12 years. From Zhuan Falun I realized a lot of things: Why I have to be compassionate and clean-living in this life, why I cant lie or steal, why I cant retaliate when I am hit or sworn at, why I should look within when a conflict happens, and why I shouldnt criticize others."
[Julyana Kim, Moscow Falun Gong Practitioner]:
"I have benefitted a lot physically from the practice of Falun Gong. By now, I have practically forgotten about all the illnesses I used to suffer from."
Lawyer Mikhail Sinitsyn is helping Falun Gong practitioners resolve matters concerning the violation of their rights. In his opinion, the court deliberately did not invite Falun Gong to participate in the hearings because, he says, they would have proven the positive influence of Falun Gong.
[Mikhail Sinitsyn, Lawyer]:
"This court hearing violates the rights of Russian practitioners of Falun Dafa for free access to information, and the right to act according to their belief."
Sinitsyn says neither the prosecutor's office nor the Ministry of Justice made any direct claims against Falun Gong to justify the blacklisting... So what's behind the ruling? The Falun Dafa Association says it wasn't originally the Russian government, but rather the Chinese Communist Party, which severely persecutes the spiritual group inside China.
[Sun Lezhi, Russian Falun Dafa Association]:
"Over the past four years the Chinese communist regime has been spreading slander about Falun Gong in Russia and exporting its persecution overseas, trying to win the Russian government over with economic benefits and trade deals. Unfortunately, Russian authorities have accepted its slander and lies and help spread them."
Also added to the list of "extremist publications" in Russia was an investigative report by Canadians David Kilgour and David Matas. It details how China's state-run prisons harvest organs from living Falun Gong practitioners.
[Sun Lezhi, Russian Falun Dafa Association]:
"Therefore, I think that the court decision and the actions of Ministry of justice turn the principles of good and evil upside down. Think about it, if society cannot tell good from evil, it will face great danger. I believe that the Chinese Communist regime will end soon, just like the Communist party of Soviet Union ended. I would not like the Russian government to be an accomplice in the crimes of the CCP. I wish for the well-being and a good future for the Russian nation."
Russian Falun Gong practitioners will file an appeal against the original court judgment in the near future.
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@unit45x that the surface of a dark cult
ultimate8pac 3 months ago
Falun Gong beleive in karma wen people die and saving people through killing them
ultimate8pac 3 months ago
Communist countries (with nuclear power), can't allow big movements of different ideology. Too bad. Many countries also have taken big loans from China... So stopping the torture of falun gong practitioners in china is reeeaaalllllly slow.......
xtmotorcycle 2 years ago
Compassion, Tolerance, and truthfulness.
These are all good things. All people in all cultures should embrace these concepts. All persecution of Falun Gong is politically motivated and is a disgrace to all people, religions, and governments. How dare the Russian Ministry of Justice make such extreme statements. They should resign their positions now!
unit45x 3 years ago 2
Did the Russian Orthodox Church had a hand in this?
abarzilai664 3 years ago
Perhaps i really need to update myself on falun gong.
Why the heck they outlaw it?? JUst to befriend with the CCP?
0PsycoDad0 3 years ago
This is a bad sign of many for Russia. I think they are on a backward slide. Putin wants to be Czar Putin, if he isn't already. Putin was a KGB man, let us not forget that! May God have pity on his soul.
Down with the CCP and the KGB!!!
unit45x 3 years ago