Why has the Chinese government persecuted Falun Gong practitioners?
Falun Gong has no political agenda or affiliation. However, the Chinese government has perceived Falun Gong as a threat, just as it has other groups that are popular or that involve principles not directly related to their Communist ideology. Starting in July, 1999, the Chinese government banned the practice of Falun Gong and started persecuting its estimated 70 million practitioners inside China. Since then tens of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners have been detained, and thousands have been beaten, forced from their jobs, homes, schools, and sent to labor camps without trial. In the past 18 months, more than 100 practitioners have died while in police custody. Q: How are Falun Gong practitioners responding to the Chinese government’s crackdown? A: Falun Gong members have appealed to the Chinese government via the proper legal channels, but without response. Thousands continue to be arrested in China simply for asking to be allowed to practice in peace. Not a single practitioner h
