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Epoch Times
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Chinese Asylum Seeker Urges US to Pass Falun Gong Protection Act
Falun Gong practitioner Qin Yongjie expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the United States for 'the freedom to practice his beliefs on its soil' while attending a recent parade in the U.S. capital. On July 17, Falun Gong practitioners and supporters from the Eastern United States gathered in Washington to commemorate the 26th anniversary of the ongoing persecution of Falun Gong by the Chinese regime, calling for the disbandment of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and an end to the persecution. 'In China, the persecution our family endured is one example of the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong,' Qin said. 'For 26 years, the unimaginable suffering endured by Falun Gong practitioners in mainland China has been beyond the comprehension of the international community.' Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a spiritual meditation practice based on the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. The CCP, fearing that Falun Gong's popularity threatened the regime's power, began a brutal campaign to eradicate the practice on July 20, 1999. Since then, untold numbers of practitioners have been subjected to arbitrary detention, forced labor, torture, and even death by forced organ harvesting. 'The persecution is still ongoing, and the CCP's heinous crime of large-scale organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners has not stopped,' Qin told NTD, the sister media outlet of The Epoch Times. 'I hope the Falun Gong Protection Act will be passed in Congress as soon as possible for the president to sign into law, helping to end the persecution soon.' He said that 'in Communist China, there is no freedom of belief.' 'The CCP forces all Chinese people to study Marxist-Leninist doctrines of struggle from a young age, which is a very terrifying reality,' he said. On May 5, the House of Representatives passed the Falun Gong Protection Act (HR 1540) by voice vote with no objections. The bill includes provisions to sanction individuals implicated in the forced harvesting of organs from Falun Gong practitioners. The sanctions would apply to foreign nationals 'who the President determines have knowingly engaged in or facilitated the involuntary harvesting of organs within the People's Republic of China,' according to the bill. Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.), lead sponsor of the Falun Gong Protection Act, said that 'there has to be some consequence to this barbaric and horrific behavior.' Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) introduced the companion bill (S.817) in the Senate in March. 'China's persecution of Falun Gong practitioners is an attack on religious freedom and human rights,' he said in a statement. 'I urge my colleagues to join me in countering these human rights violations and ensuring the CCP is held accountable.' Newfound Freedom This was Qin's second time attending the commemoration event in the United States. He felt a 'sacredness and excitement' during the parade, noting it is 'impossible to practice in mainland China right now.' Qin and his wife, Chen Ruiyun, both schoolteachers in China, fled the communist country in February last year. 'We trekked through mountains and rivers, crossing from Central to South America, and arrived in the United States after countless hardships, finally reuniting with our daughter,' he said. They had planned this journey after a particularly harrowing experience in May 2014, when the couple and their daughter were detained in a detention center in their hometown of Weifang city, Shandong Province, for a month. 'From that moment, we began seeking ways to flee overseas,' Qin said. 'My daughter came to the United States to study in January 2018, and my wife and I finally achieved our dream of joining her last year.' Qin's story with Falun Gong dates back to 1997, when he began practicing it with his wife, who had taken up the practice a year earlier, during its meteoric rise in popularity since its introduction in 1992. 'The principles of Falun Gong—truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance—gave us boundless hope and strength for the future. From then on, Falun Dafa became our lifelong faith,' he said. 'Cuffed to Iron Door for 79 Days' Since the start of the persecution, many practitioners, including Qin and his wife, were forcibly taken away by the authorities and sent to China's extrajudicial system of forced labor camps and prisons. 'Being detained in detention centers, jails, and brainwashing centers became a frequent occurrence for our family,' Qin said. 'My wife and I were abducted and detained over 10 times by the CCP; our daughter was abducted and detained twice. 'I was taken to a forced labor camp twice for a total of four years, while my wife was sent to a labor camp for three years.' Qin spent two months in the Weifang Forced Labor Camp before being transferred to the Wangcun Forced Labor Camp, where the majority of arrested male Falun Gong practitioners from Shandong Province were detained and persecuted. He said he was handcuffed day and night—even while eating, sleeping, using the bathroom, and changing clothes—for 141 days. Qin recalled the persecution he experienced at the labor camp. 'I was confined in a roughly four-square-meter cell in solitary confinement. They forced me to be cuffed to the iron door, stand, and embrace the door for 79 days,' he said. 'During the first 10 days, I was not allowed to close my eyes; if I did, I was beaten on the head with a small stick.' Qin's legs swelled severely due to prolonged standing and his struggle to maintain balance. On the 10th day, Qin protested their depriving him of sleep, which led to more abuses. Qin said more than 10 policemen, each wielding an electric baton, electrocuted him. 'This inhumane electric torture lasted an entire morning and covered my entire body,' he said. 'The scars from the electric shocks took two years to fade.' After the torture session, Qin could only lean against the iron door while standing cuffed to it. The guards then allowed him to lie down from midnight to 5 a.m., but kept him chained to the door for the rest of the day. This torture continued for 79 days. In protest of the abuses, Qin went on a hunger strike for 74 days, during which the police resorted to force-feeding, thrusting a tube through his nostril into his stomach. He said that each time the tube was inserted or removed, his nose bled, causing excruciating pain. Despite the abuses, Qin remained unwavering in his faith. He said that the main principles of Falun Gong—to be true, compassionate, and forbearing—constitute 'the core of what people often refer to as universal values.' 'All societal corruption, chaos, and natural or man-made disasters stem from people's words and actions deviating from these principles,' he said. 'That's why, despite brutal persecution, we steadfastly uphold our faith.' The Brainwashing Center The abuses occurred not only in forced labor camps but also in so-called brainwashing centers. On one occasion, in a brainwashing center in Weifang city, Qin and his wife, Chen, were held in separate small rooms with all doors and windows fitted with iron bars and tightly sealed. The police used another torture method on them: handcuffs and foot shackles welded to iron chairs. Qin and Chen were forced into these iron chairs and were handcuffed and shackled at the ankles. The police worked in three shifts to interrogate them separately around the clock, attempting to coerce them into renouncing their faith. Whenever they closed their eyes, the police either splashed cold water on their faces or blasted loud noises through speakers placed near their ears. This round-the-clock sleep deprivation lasted nearly 40 days until the police extorted fines of 20,000 yuan ($2,796) and 10,000 yuan ($1,398) from the schools where Qin and Chen worked before releasing them. The money was deducted from their salaries. For more than 20 years, the CCP's surveillance of them never ceased. 'We lived in fear, constantly worried about being arrested, beaten, imprisoned, or even killed,' Qin said. Even after they fled China, the police repeatedly harassed Qin's sisters about his and Chen's whereabouts and staked out at Qin's former neighborhood for an extended period, attempting to capture the couple. Ongoing Persecution in Weifang City Reports on Minghui, a website dedicated to documenting the persecution of Falun Gong by the regime, revealed that at least 139 Falun Gong practitioners in Qin's hometown of Weifang city had been persecuted to death by the CCP. Many more cases go unreported due to families' fear of repercussions at the hands of the regime. Among the Falun Gong practitioners persecuted to death for their faith, Qin said he personally knew 18 of them. Some of them were killed during detention, while others died shortly after being released from prisons, labor camps, or brainwashing centers. Qin said he still vividly remembers one of them, Jiang Guobo, a former official of the Weifang Municipal Political and Legal Affairs Committee, who was persecuted alongside him in the same labor camp. Because Jiang refused to renounce his faith in Falun Gong, he was arrested 13 times, sentenced to forced labor three times, and later imprisoned for five years in Shandong Men's Prison, where he was subjected to drug torture. After his release, Jiang continued to suffer from the effects of the unknown drugs that were forcibly injected into him in prison, experiencing abdominal swelling, weakness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and rectal bleeding, according to Minghui. He frequently fainted and ultimately passed away on April 29, 2021. Qin, who frequently visits Minghui to keep abreast of the ongoing persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in his hometown, said, 'The persecution in Weifang City remains severe.' From Minghui, he learned that his friend Wu Jiqiang, a Falun Gong practitioner in Weifang, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison by the Kuiwen District Court on April 18. Many of his other friends remain detained by the CCP in detention centers and prisons. 'I thank the U.S. government and the American people for their support of Falun Dafa, which helps bring justice to persecuted Falun Gong practitioners in China,' Qin said.
The Wire
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Wire
Bihar SIR ‘Exercise in Exclusion', Says Opposition INDIA Bloc
Politics Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, the opposition said that the EC must abandon its 'institutional arrogance' and roll back the SIR. New Delhi: The opposition INDIA bloc on Sunday (July 27) called the Election Commission (EC)'s ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar an 'exercise in exclusion', demanding that the poll body give up its 'institutional arrogance' and stop the exercise. 'This is an exercise in exclusion. In the whole month, you could not find a single person who had to be included? There are different categories of exclusion, but it is highly surprising that they did not come across a single person who is eligible for inclusion,' said Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya while addressing a press conference in New Delhi. 'Between the summary revision which was conducted in January 2025 and July 2025 SIR, are we to believe that 22 lakh people have died in the last six months?' According to the EC's figures released on Sunday, a total of 65 lakh people have been found to be deceased, permanently shifted or not found, and another seven lakh were found to have registered in multiple places. The commission said that 7.24 crore enumeration forms have been collected at the end of its month-long exercise, which amounts to 91.69% of the total electors in the state. The press conference was addressed by Bhattacharya, Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Manoj Kumar Jha, Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi and the Communist Party of India (Marxist)'s Nilotpal Basu. Singhvi questioned the 'institutional arrogance' of the EC and asked why the exercise could not be de-linked from the assembly elections due to be held in November. 'Please rethink your institutional arrogance. Everyone across the country is urging you to roll this back. What was the hurry to conduct this exercise just three months before the elections and link it to the elections? Why could this not be done after the elections? Many mistakes are being made because of this time limit,' he said. Singhvi said that amid questions being raised that the exercise was not one for the purification of electoral rolls but a citizenship verification drive, the EC has now made its stated objective clear. 'Earlier it was not clear, but now it is absolutely clear that this is a citizenship verification exercise by the EC. The Supreme Court's suggestion is as good as an order. If one is to accept the EC's argument that Aadhaar, ration card and EPIC card cannot be accepted, then that only means you want a proof of citizenship. That means your stated objective is to determine citizenship,' he said. Earlier this week, the EC in its affidavit in the Supreme Court said it has the authority to seek proof of citizenship and also turned down the court's suggestion that Aadhaar, voter identity and ration cards be considered as valid documents in its controversial exercise, which has been criticised for its risk of mass disenfranchisement and exclusion. 'Because you have said citizenship cannot be determined by ration card, voter ID card or Aadhaar card. So the question arises, has this right been given to the EC?' said Singhvi. Jha said that the exercise was started without consulting political parties, while 'opacity had become a hallmark' of the EC's functioning. 'When the chief election commissioner [Gyanesh Kumar] took over, he had said emphatically that none of his decisions would be taken without consulting political parties. I think in the last 22 years, there has been no bigger decision than this, but no political party was consulted. On June 24 the exercise was announced and on June 25 it was started," he said. Jha said that reports had shown booth-level officers filling out forms or sitting at a party office and signing forms, as well as instances of forms not being filled duly. 'This is a form of constitutional fraud. If my form can be filled without my sign or fingerprint and submitted, and on the basis of this you call it a cleaning exercise, then sorry to say, opacity has become a hallmark of the functioning of the EC,' he said. The opposition parties demanded that the exercise be stopped, with time still in hand. The Supreme Court meanwhile is slated to continue hearing the petitions challenging the exercise on Monday (July 28). The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
The South African
3 days ago
- Politics
- The South African
EFF marks 12th anniversary with massive turnout in Khayelitsha
Thousands of Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) supporters gathered at Khayelitsha Rugby Stadium on Saturday, 26 July, to mark the party's 12th anniversary. Long queues stretched along Pama Road from early morning as people waited to enter the venue. They scheduled the main programme to begin at midday, and crowds of youth, elders, and children were already filling the venue hours before. Organisers set up a family-friendly play area, complete with jumping castles, tables, chairs, and paramedics on standby. Speaking with IOL , Khayelitsha resident Bathandwa Dywili said she hoped EFF leader Julius Malema would address key social challenges affecting the community. 'We hope the EFF president will speak about youth unemployment and underage drinking, which are widespread issues causing concern among young people,' she said. 'It would also be encouraging if he addressed other social problems that contribute to crime.' Julius Malema launched the EFF on 26 July 2013 after the ANC expelled him, where he had led the party's Youth League. Following disciplinary action for bringing the ANC into disrepute. Malema formed the EFF as a radical left-wing alternative, focusing on economic transformation. Rooted in pan-Africanist and Marxist-Leninist ideologies, the EFF quickly attracted support from youth and working-class communities. It entered Parliament in 2014 with 25 seats and has since grown into South Africa's third-largest political party. Twelve years on, the EFF remains known for its red regalia, militant slogans, and confrontational presence in Parliament. Saturday's gathering highlighted the continued loyalty and energy that surrounds the movement. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
India Today
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
The Castro grandson who Fidels as Havana plunges into darkness
Cuba, long defined by the Marxist-Leninist and Communist legacy of Fidel Castro's iron-fisted rule and ideals, remains one of the poorest countries in Latin America. With the average monthly wage stuck at around $16.50, everyday life on the island is marked by struggle, scarcity, and sacrifice. But not for everyone, not for the Castro who 'Fidels' while Havana those untouched by Cuba's deepening crisis is Sandro Castro, Fidel Castro's grandson, whose life today is a stark contrast to the austerity preached by his 33, Sandro is a social media figure with over 121,000 Instagram followers. His content doesn't echo political ideology or social concerns; it's a glossy display of wealth, status, and inherited privilege. In one post, he's on a yacht sipping Cristal beer. In another, he races through Havana in a luxury Mercedes-Benz. His nightlife venue, EFE Bar, caters to Cuba's wealthy and well-connected, charging 1,000 Cuban Peso (approximately $42 or Rs 3,600) at the door and demanding a minimum spend of 15,000 CUP (approximately $625 or Rs 54,000) at its tables – figures wildly out of reach for most has posted reels with a soundtrack by Bad Bunny, mocking the long power cuts that have plagued the capital city Havana. In a cheeky jab, he even compared himself to the state electricity company, suggesting he too could hand out his countryside getaway, El Patrn, where nights can cost $100, he lounges and unwinds, while back in the city, fuel, medicine, and food are in short to Fidel's son Alexis Castro, Sandro was raised in Punto Cero, a tightly guarded compound that shielded him from the shortages and stress endured by average Cubans. His life was always that difference plays out online: he wears designer clothes, smokes expensive cigars, and plays reggaeton music from a seat of comfort that symbolises a family that never truly gave up the visibility of his wealth, Sandro's net worth remains a mystery. Analysts believe he profits from his bars – EFE and Fantaxy, as well as from his influencer presence and possibly from access to old family Fidel, who was once estimated by Forbes to be worth hundreds of millions, Sandro's financials are well has occasionally drawn criticism from within the establishment, but largely, there has been no formal a video of him flaunting a Mercedes went viral in 2021 during a period of severe shortages, he tried to walk it back, but the damage was comments about the "toys" he owned didn't sit well with people struggling to find bread and Cuba continues to decline. Its GDP shrank again in 2024, part of a five-year slide that has erased nearly a tenth of the cost of living is on the rise as incomes stagnate. People endure endless blackouts, empty shelves, and increasing hopelessness. And as all this unfolds, Sandro continues to post cocktails, luxury dinners, and Cristal for many Cubans, represents the hypocrisy of a revolution that demanded sacrifice from its people while shielding its own inner circle. His lifestyle, so at odds with the Cuba's reality, has made him a symbol of the very inequality the revolution once promised to abolish.- EndsMust Watch
New Indian Express
22-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
V S Achuthanandan: A Rebel who redefined Kerala's political battles
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It was V S Achuthanandan's wont to see divides everywhere. Where none existed, he would create one. He would position himself on one side and wage a battle. He has won some; lost some, and transformed himself in the process. His political longevity has surprised and irked many, for he was the archetypal voice of opposition – in his party and the larger society. As CPM state secretary (1980-1992), he ruled with an iron fist. Later on, however, he transformed himself into a critical insider, waging pitched battles against power concentrated in the hands of one-time party proteges. He was a hawk, who wouldn't budge from his notions of doctrinal purity, no matter what. That essentially meant he had to swim against the organisational tide. Though he was one of the 32 founding leaders of CPM in 1964, his deviation from the party line began the very next year. In 1964-65, almost the entire CPM leadership was accused of being Chinese spies and jailed during the India-China war. As a prisoner at the Poojappura Central Prison, VS organised prisoners and exhorted them to donate blood for Indian soldiers. The party prison committee rejected his proposal saying it went against Marxist-Leninist principles.
