Falun Gong practitioners in London protested outside the Russian Embassy last week to appeal against a Russian ban on the main text of their peaceful spiritual practice. It appears that the Russian authorities have been influenced by the Chinese regime in banning the text.
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Falun Gong practitioners in the United Kingdom are protesting against the suppression of their spiritual practice. But this time, the message is not directed at the Chinese regime, which has persecuted Falun Gong since 1999. Rather, they are urging Russian authorities to stop furthering the Chinese Communist Party's campaign.
On July 5th, the practitioners appealed to the Russian Embassy in London. They want the Russian government to reverse a ban on the book Zhuan Falun. The book, which is the main text of the spiritual practice, was listed on the Russian authorities' list of extremist materials in 2008.
[Dr Liu Wei, Director of the Falun Dafa Association UK]
"We'll do what we can to urge the Russian government and its judiciary branches to really treat Falun Gong practitioners in the spirit of a democratic country. Falun Gong itself is a very peaceful cultivation group, and practitioners follow the principles of Truth, Compassion and Tolerance. It's spread to more than one hundred countries, which all really welcome Falun Gong."
Their effort is to back an appeal by Falun Gong practitioners in Russia against the book ban. Since 2008, Russian practitioners have been in a legal tussle with Russian courts. The ban also covers two Falun Gong information pamphlets, and a human rights report about the Chinese regime's harvesting of organs from living Falun Gong practitioners.
Lawyer Mikhail Sinitsyn who has been representing Falun Gong in Russian courts since 2009, says that due process has not been followed.
[Mikhail Sinitsyn, Lawyer Representing Falun Gong]:
"Higher courts where we appealed to are not motivated to make their own decision. They simply copy the decision of the court in first instance without responding to our evidence and arguments."
Third-party groups have suggested Falun Gong's treatment in Russia is a result of the country's ties with the Chinese regime. Members of the European Parliament have also urged Russia to act independently.
The Russian Supreme Court will decide this week whether to reject the latest appeal, or agree to review the initial court decision.
