Payam Javan: U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns has called on the Chinese government to release Falun Gong practitioners, who have faced severe persecution for their spiritual beliefs over the past 25 years. This statement, made on July 22, followed a similar call from the State Department urging an end to the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) campaign against the group. The CCP’s crackdown has led to numerous arrests, imprisonments, and even deaths among practitioners.

On July 23, the U.S. Embassy in Beijing marked the 25th anniversary of the persecution campaign. Falun Gong, or Falun Dafa, a spiritual practice emphasizing truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance, was once widely practiced in China. However, after its popularity surged in the late 1990s, CCP leader Jiang Zemin launched a campaign against it in 1999, fearing its influence. Since then, millions have been detained, with many subjected to torture and organ harvesting.

Despite over two decades of suppression, the CCP continues its repression, with 218 practitioners sentenced to prison in the first half of 2024 alone. Forced organ harvesting of detained practitioners, confirmed by an independent tribunal in London, remains a serious concern.

The persecution of Falun Gong has drawn widespread international condemnation, including from U.S. officials, human rights advocates, and lawmakers across multiple countries, who have called for an immediate end to the campaign and the release of all detained practitioners.