Communiqué: Cotler calls for the ending of "Criminalization of innocence" in China


For immediate release

Thursday, January 18, 2001

OTTAWA: We are delighted at Professor Zhang's release he is expression and example of a profile of courage but as he would remind us, we must bear the following facts in mind:

  1. Professor Zhang should never have been arrested, detained, tortured or sentenced to three years in a labour camp to begin with. As I stated, on the occasion of his imprisonment this was tantamount to the "criminalization of innocence - the criminalization of fundamental freedoms the freedoms of conscience and belief - of assembly and association of expression and opinion."
  2. Professor Zhang's release should not obscure the fact that thousands of practitioners of Falun Gong are languishing in prisons, labour camps, mental institutions or other forms of detention.
  3. The policy and practice of torture is routine amongst Falun Gong detainees even though China has ratified the Torture Convention.
  4. The Falun Gong has been outlawed as an "illegal, criminal sect." All its practitioners are therefore subject to intimidation, persecution, prosecution and imprisonment for doing nothing other than being members of an exercise/meditation, spiritual group dedicated to the ancient Chinese values of "Truth, Compassion and Tolerance."
  5. The persecution of the Falun Gong is a case study of the persistent and pervasive assault on human rights in China today, with the singling out of religious adherents as the primary objects of persecution and prosecution.

We call upon the Chinese authorities to:

  1. Repeal the illegal ban on the Falun Gong.
  2. Rescind any laws or regulations specifically criminalizing the Falun Gong as an "illegal association," and prohibiting thereby the exercise of the fundamental freedoms of their members.
  3. Cease and desist from any policy or practice of torture or other degrading punishment or treatment of prisoners in detention.
  4. Release all Falun Gong members now detained in prison, forced labour camps, or psychiatric detention.

For information please contact: Irwin Cotler, M.P.

(514)497-3671

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