(Minghui.org) In response to a letter by a U.S. Congressman urging the U.S. Department of State to take action to rescue two Chinese Falun Gong practitioners detained for their faith, the U.S. State Department said that they are paying close attention to the practitioners’ cases and that they have also demanded that the Chinese Communist Party unconditionally release all detained Falun Gong practitioners and other prisoners of conscience.
The two Falun Gong practitioners in question, Ms. Meng Zhaohong and Ms. Yuan Xiuhua, of Qinglong County, Qinhuangdao City, Hebei Province, were arrested at a local fair on May 9, 2023, after being reported for talking to people about the persecution of Falun Gong. Both women were held in the Qinhuangdao City Public Security Hospital, as their health has declined due to police beatings following their arrests. Ms. Meng, the mother of California resident Ms. Ding Yue, in particular, has been struggling with a severe lung disease.
According to Ms. Ding, Ms. Meng stood trial in the Funing District Court in Qinhuangdao on August 22, 2023. Her lawyer entered a not guilty plea for her. He argued that no law has ever criminalized Falun Gong in China, and pointed out that the prosecutor failed to present any evidence to show how Ms. Meng’s practicing Falun Gong has caused any damage to any individual or to society at large.
Despite the lack of legal basis and evidence, the prosecutor still recommended a prison sentence of 4-5 years for Ms. Meng. The judge didn’t announce the verdict at the end of the hearing.
Kevin Kiley, U.S. Congressman representing the Third District in California, wrote to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on July 13, 2023, urging the State Department to take action to rescue Ms. Meng and Ms. Yuan.
Congressman Kiley wrote, “My constituent has expressed her fears for Mrs. Meng’s welfare while in the custody of People’s Republic of China (PRC) authorities.” He urged Secretary Blinken to direct Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns to raise the case with his Chinese counterparts.
Congressman Kiley added that prior to Ms. Meng’s latest arrest, she has served two labor camp terms and another prison term, for a total of over eight years. While in custody, she was shocked with electric batons, beaten by the guards and force-fed. The torture resulted in a broken ring finger on her left hand and permanent disability in her left arm.
He emphasized that it’s well documented that Falun Gong practitioners are subjected to widespread arbitrary detention and other human rights abuses in China, and that it’s important for the international community to raise awareness of and take a stand against such human rights violations.
Mr. Philip Laidlaw, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Legislative Affairs in the State Department
In response to Congressman Kiley’s letter, Philip Laidlaw, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Legislative Affairs in the State Department, replied on August 18, 2023, expressing their shared concern about detained Falun Gong practitioners.
Mr. Laidlaw said that they were deeply concerned about the communist regime’s “ongoing campaign of repression against the Falun Gong movement and its millions of practitioners, their advocates, and human rights defenders working on their behalf.”
He affirmed that “freedom of beliefs, including religion” remains the State Department’s top priority. He pointed out that China has been consistently listed as a “Country of Particular Concern” under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 for its brutal suppression of religious freedom.
He promised that they would “continue to coordinate with likeminded partners to call for the PRC to immediately and unconditionally release prisoners of conscience” and that they “use a range of tools including public messaging, private engagements, and accountability measures to raise concern and promote accountability for the PRC’s human rights violations and abuses.”
Mr. Laidlaw added that both the State Department spokesman and the U.S. Ambassador at Large voiced their support for Falun Gong and condemned the persecution on July 20, 2023, the 24th anniversary since the start of the persecution.
In addition, officials of the U.S. Embassy also meet with their Chinese counterparts on a regular basis, as well as members of registered and unregistered religious groups, families of prisoners of conscience and civil society advocates, where they have emphasized the U.S.’s strong support for freedom of religion and belief.
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