(Minghui.org) The British Falun Dafa Association received a response from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in regards to the recent sentencing of a Falun Dafa practitioner in Russia on August 15, 2025. In the letter, the Office condemned the Kremlin’s deterioration regarding human rights and will investigate and hold Russia accountable for violating human rights. The letter also called on the Russian government to abide by its promise to uphold religious freedom.
The UK government has actively upheld religious freedom through its positions at the United Nations, the G7 and other multilateral fora, as well as bilateral exchanges with China. The Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary, Chancellor, Energy Secretary and Minister for the Indo-Pacific have all raised human rights issues with Chinese officials.
UK Government Supports Religious Freedom
In the letter, the UK government clearly stated its stance on human rights and religious freedom. “The UK government champions freedom of religion or belief for all. In the UK, we are firmly committed to promoting and protecting the rights to freedom of religion or belief, and in being a strong voice international in defense of this fundamental right.”
The letter also stated the intent to investigate Russia’s violation of human rights, “We regularly use our public communications and position in multilateral fora to highlight, and hold Russia to account for, its human rights violations. For example, on 31 July the UK raised the Russian authorities’ repression of internal political opposition at the UN Security Council. The UK’s Human Rights Ambassador reiterated our call for the Russian authorities to release all political prisoners on 4 August.”
It also raised the issue about Falun Dafa and the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution. “The environment for freedom of religion or belief across China is restrictive, which includes the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners both at home and overseas. We work to uphold the right to freedom of religion and belief through our position at the UN, G7 and other multilateral fora, and through bilateral engagement with China. The Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary, Chancellor, Energy Secretary and Minister for the Indo-Pacific have all raised human rights with their Chinese counterparts in recent months.”
Letter reply to the British Falun Dafa Association from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Human Rights Without Frontiers (HRWF) Posts Article on the Persecution of Falun Gong in Russia
A Minghui correspondent noticed that a non-governmental organization, Human Rights Without Frontiers (HRWF), published an article about Falun Dafa: “Russia: Four years in prison for Natalia Minenkova, a Falun Gong practitioner.” The article explained that Russia banned Zhuan Falun, the main text of Falun Dafa, in 2011 to how Falun Dafa practitioner Natalia Minenkova is sentenced to four years in prison in 2025.
According to the article, the Russian authorities began following the Chinese Communist Party’s stance in forcing Falun Dafa practitioners of Chinese origin, who had long been residing in Russia, to leave the country as early as 2000. Among them were Meng Zhaowu, Sun Lezhi, and Liu Mingtian. However, this did not stop Russians from treasuring Zhuan Falun and benefiting both physically and mentally by practicing Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Russians have begun practicing Falun Dafa, despite the ongoing wide scale persecution in China since July 1999.
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