The Chinese government paid little attention to the Falun Gong movement when its creator, Li Honghzi, first began distributing books and cassettes to the Chinese public in 1992.  Honghzi combined Buddhist and Taoist teachings with a series of meditative exercises, essentially drawing from several practices that are individually commonplace in Chinese society.  However, the Falun Gong’s emphasis on an active morality, encouraging people to participate and protest in the public sphere, did not suit the policies of a communist regime.  In 1999, Chinese officials awoke to discover a massive silent protest outside of their residential compound. By demonstrating its ability to organize in mass numbers and on short notice, the Falun Gong spiritual movement became a threat. Honghzi was immediately exiled.  The government has since engaged in a massive propaganda campaign, affecting the depiction of the Falun Gong practitioners in everything from newspapers to stage plays. In the media, Falun Gong is referred to as “an evil cult.”

The persecution of Falun Gong stretches far beyond the battle of words.  Thousands have been sent to labor camps and have been beaten, raped, and murdered.  According to a report by former Canadian parliament member David Kilgor and lawyer David Matas, involuntary organ harvesting is also commonplace in the labor camps.  In hopes that they might receive better treatment and be safe from the conditions of the labor camps, families have committed their own family members to mental hospitals.  Nonetheless, even mental hospitals have been enlisted to perpetuate the torture. Many Falun Gong members in mental hospitals have developed mental and physical disorders as a result of severe psychiatric abuse.

The Chinese government has persecuted other religious persuasions as well. Under the pretext of the war on terrorism, every aspect of the daily life of Uighur Muslims has been put under strict regulation. Many have also been jailed, tortured, and executed. Even though Islam, Catholicism and Protestantism are all recognized as official religions, even China’s Christian population of at least 40 million suffer the same modes of abuse. Many Christians hold secret church meetings to escape the interference of the government in state-registered churches.  
Thousands of Falun Gong, Christians, and Muslims have fled China to escape the persecution of the communist regime; they are searching for a country that doesn’t just pay ‘lip service’ to the words “freedom of religion.” Nonetheless, in today’s global economy, the influence of international politics is often a presiding factor over domestic policy.  It is deeply unfortunate that groups such as the Falun Gong are affected on a global level by the influence of the Chinese government. Even in a country like Canada, which is often lauded for its religious tolerance, the Falun Gong are still forced to remember the persecution that they left behind in China.

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