Greetings from Finnish Parliamentarians on World Falun Dafa Day

(Minghui.org) May 13, 2021, marked the 29^th anniversary of Falun Dafa's public introduction and the 22^nd World Falun Dafa Day. Four Finnish parliamentarians sent greetings to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day and condemn the Chinese Communist Party's ongoing human rights abuses against Falun Dafa practitioners in China.

Joint-Statement from Three MPs

Sari Essayah, Member of Parliament of the Christian Democratic Party of Finland and Chair of the Freedom of Religion and Prisoners of Conscience Group

Mika Niikko, Member of Parliament of the Orthodox Finns Party and Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee

Sari Tanus, Member of Parliament, Christian Democratic Party of Finland

The public statement issued by MPs, Sari Essayah, Mika Niikko, and Sari Tanus on May 13 emphasized that the dignity of Falun Dafa practitioners is inviolable and religious freedom is part of one’s innate human rights.

Below is the English translation of their statement:

Public Statement by the Finnish Parliamentary Group for Freedom of Religion and Prisoners of Conscience on the Human Rights Situation in China on World Falun Dafa Day, May 13, 2021

The Freedom of Religion and Prisoners of Conscience Commission of the Finnish Parliament closely monitors the situation of religious freedom in China. The recent public debate on the situation of the Uyghurs is extremely important. In addition to this, we also need to pay attention to other Chinese minorities who suffer from persecution and oppression, including Christians and Falun Gong practitioners.

Little is known about the persecution of Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong) and its practitioners. In China, practitioners are threatened with imprisonment and persecution. The most shocking crime is the barbaric removal of organs from living practitioners. According to information collected by Minghui.org, more than 15,000 Falun Dafa practitioners were arrested or persecuted in 2020, a 2.4-fold increase compared to the previous year. At least 83 Falun Gong practitioners lost their lives in the persecution of their belief.

On May 13, World Falun Dafa Day, we, the undersigned, remind everyone that the dignity of Falun Gong practitioners is inviolable and religious freedom is an innate human right.

Signed by:

Sari Essayah, Member of Parliament of the Christian Democratic Party of Finland, Chair of the Freedom of Religion and Prisoners of Conscience Group

Mika Niikko, Member of Parliament of the orthodox Finns Party, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee

Sari Tanus, Member of Parliament, Christian Democratic Party of Finland

Statement from the Green Alliance Party MP

Outi Alanko-Kahiluoto, Member of Parliament for the Green Alliance Party

Outi Alanko-Kahiluoto, MP of the Green Alliance Party, sent a congratulatory letter in celebration of World Falun Dafa Day. She expressed her condemnation of the CCP's human rights violations perpetrated against practitioners.

The congratulatory letter is translated as follows:

The human rights situation and the systematic persecution of minorities in China is abhorrent. The Finnish government must unequivocally condemn what China is doing to its minorities. In the meantime, I am pleased to extend the following greeting: Warm congratulations to the Falun Dafa community on its anniversary!

Prime Minister Sanna Marin’s administration is committed to promoting human rights, the rule of law, democracy, peace, freedom, tolerance, and equality in all international activities, which are at the core of foreign and security policy values. For example, the Finnish government must respect human rights in all its foreign policy and unequivocally condemn the Chinese Communist Party's violations of the human rights of Falun Dafa practitioners.

May we strengthen your effort and wish you all a bright spring!

Outi Alanko-Kahiluoto, Member of Parliament for the Green Alliance Party