OTTAWA, December 14, 2001 (Falun Dafa Information Center)-Setting a worldwide legal precedent, a Canadian court issued a mandate Monday prohibiting the Montreal-based Chinese newspaper "La Presse Chinoise Eastern" from publishing materials defaming the Falun Gong spiritual practice. Falun Gong practitioners, along with their legal counsel Mr. Michael Bergman, a civil rights lawyer, held a press conference to make public the details of the court order issued earlier this week. The material's author was also ordered not to circulate defamatory anti-Falun Gong materials under any circumstances.

"The Chinese Embassy and Consulates in Canada have been inciting hatred toward Falun Gong on Canadian soil by sending defamatory materials to all levels of Canadian government officials, to the media and by influencing Canadian Chinese newspapers through various means," said Cindy Gu, a spokesperson for the Falun Dafa Information Center. "The hate literature in 'La Presse Chinoise Eastern' repeats the Chinese authorities' unfounded defamations used to demonize Falun Gong and justify their brutal and relentless persecution of Falun Gong practitioners."

Legal counsel Mr. Bergman added, "The motto of Falun Gong, 'Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance' also describes core Canadian values. We all have a responsibility to protect from persecution our fellows. By the court case launched by the Falun Gong practitioners, they have drawn a line in this end against those who perpetrate hatred and gross distortions and falsehood about Falun Gong or any other belief genuinely held."

Mr. Rob Anders, MP wrote a congratulation letter to the Falun Dafa Association of Canada upon hearing the court order issued to prohibit anti-Falun Gong publications:

"I understand the uphill battle practitioners are facing. My own office has been a target of the mistruth spread by the Embassy of the People's Republic of China. They have attempted to spread their misrepresentations widely in Canada and it is heartening to hear that these practices are beginning to be stopped," wrote Mr. Anders.

"In light of the first ever court order being issued to stop the spread of lies, mistruth and misrepresentations regarding Falun Dafa, I would like to congratulate Falun Dafa Canada. Their work in stopping the incitement of hatred towards practitioners of Falun Gong makes Canada a better place. This initial victory sends a strong message that Canada, governed by the rule of law, will not tolerate such manipulation," stated Mr. Anders.

For more information, please contact Lucy Zhou 613-599-7494, 613-862-7494 (cell).