Theme of the day of 28 November 2006

Edward McMillan-Scott MEP (EPP-ED, UK), Vice-President of the European Parliament and Simon Coveney MEP (EPP-ED, Ireland), Human Rights Spokesperson of EPP-ED Group sponsor together with the Epoch Times International and Human Rights without Frontiers a seminar on Religious intolerance in China. The seminar will take place in the A1H1 room of the European Parliament on 28 November at 12.30 - 14.00.

Since the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) took over mainland China in 1949, people of all religious faiths have been persecuted, including Christians, Catholics, Buddhists, Muslims, and especially the adherents of the Falun Gong spiritual group in recent years. The right to freedom of conscience, expression and association, though guaranteed in China's own Constitution, has been routinely violated by the CCP.

Recently, Beijing's suppression of religious groups has escalated, with documented stories such as the shooting of Tibetan nuns on the China-Nepal border, organ harvesting from live Falun Gong practitioners held in prisons, and the arbitrary detention of Mr Gao Zhisheng, a Christian lawyer, among other human rights defenders. While EU countries increase their trade with China, its dismal human rights record continues to raise widespread concern and the award of the 2008 Olympic Games does not appear to have led to any significant improvements.

Religious freedom is among the foremost, fundamental human rights for mankind. The Epoch Times International and Human Rights without Frontiers are pleased to co-host this seminar on China's religious intolerance, in an effort to shed light on present religious conditions inside mainland China. Prominent experts on China will be presenting their insights and research on this subject, together with MEPs Edward McMillan-Scott and Simon Coveney.

Among the featured speakers will be Dr Thomas Weyrauch: Scholar from Germany, specialising in human rights, legal history, and politics in China. He authored the award-winning book 'Anguished Dragon - China's Human Rights in the late stage of CCP Rule' and Mr Erping Zhang: Mason Fellow (2005) at Kennedy School of Government of Harvard and Director of Association for Asian Research. Currently Guest Scholar at the Centre for Pacific Asia Studies of Stockholm University. He specialises in China’s political economy, social change, and human rights issues.

Representatives from different religious groups, including Christians, Muslims, Falun Gong spiritual practitioners, Buddhists, etc. will be present to give their impressions on the recent deteriorating situation in China, including: Mrs Rebiya Kadeer, a prominent Uyghur Muslim rights activist.


For more information, please contact: Mr Willy Fautré, Tel: +32 2 3456145, Fax: +32 2 3437491
Dr Lixin Yang, Tel: +32 486 541542

For contact in EP:
Ms Jennifer Forrest
Ms Diane Halley

Press releases:

28/11/2006

MEPs highlight lack of religious freedom in China. Simon Coveney MEP and Edward McMillan-Scott MEP

EPP-ED Human Rights link

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