Switzerland, Einigen, April 24, 2026
Dear Mr. Ambassador QIAN Minjian,
Once again, April 25th arrives without an end to the persecution of Falun Gong. Therefore, I am reaching out to you, Mr. Ambassador QIAN Minjian, of the People's Republic of China in Bern.
What happened on April 25, 1999
In the spring of 1999, a newspaper in Tianjin published numerous lies and slanders about Falun Gong.
In response, Falun Gong practitioners visited the newspaper to clarify what Falun Gong truly is. They expected the newspaper to publish a correction. However, instead of being heard, dozens of practitioners were arrested and detained by the police without any legal basis. When news spread among the practitioners about the arrests, some decided to travel to Beijing to advocate for their release. Consequently, around 10,000 practitioners gathered on April 25, 1999, in front of the state petition office in Beijing to demand the release of those unlawfully detained.
Representatives of the Falun Gong practitioners spoke with then-Prime Minister Zhu Rongji. He promised the release of the detainees and promised that Falun Gong would not face further harassment, that Falun Gong could be practiced legally, and that its books would be published and available through normal distribution channels.
All the practitioners' requests were taken seriously, and the peaceful appeal of the 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners in Beijing is recorded in modern Chinese history as the most peaceful and uneventful petitioning event.
Falun Dafa practitioners waiting peacefully on April 25, 1999, in Beijing at locations designated by the security forces.
However, the Chinese media portrayed it very differently.
The peaceful and patient petitioning was depicted in the media as a "siege" of the central government complex and as “opposing the party.”
A few weeks later, on July 20, 1999, Jiang Zemin announced the official start of the persecution of Falun Gong. This marked the beginning of one of the most brutal suppression campaigns, which continues to this day. But returning to the anniversary of April 25, 1999.
What lies behind the event?
The event of April 25, 1999, is much more significant than it appears on the surface. It is known that 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners went to Zhongnanhai, Beijing to appeal for the release of those unlawfully detained.
What is less known is that the practitioners had approached the local authorities in Tianjin, who advised them to go to Beijing to appeal at the petition office located in the government district of Zhongnanhai. Upon arrival, the police instructed the practitioners on how to position themselves in front of the petition office in Beijing. The practitioners, unaware of any ill intentions, complied without resistance.
This was perfectly orchestrated to be portrayed in the media as a "siege of Zhongnanhai." And that is exactly what the media did. They reported on a "siege of the government district," claiming that Falun Gong aimed to seize power and described a so-called threat to the Communist Party of China. The media operate under the party, are part of its propaganda apparatus, and the party leader had his own agenda. Jiang Zemin had already infiltrated agents into Falun Gong for months to find faults within the organization. He sought anything that could justify a widespread persecution. Since no deficiencies, illegalities, or faults could be found within Falun Gong, Jiang Zemin initiated a slander campaign and spread lies about Falun Gong. One of the first activities in this regard were the very newspaper articles published in Tianjin.
However, Jiang Zemin had not anticipated one thing: the non-violence and calm of the practitioners. They did not protest loudly. They remained quiet, stood orderly and patiently, ensuring they did not obstruct anyone. When they learned that their requests had been acknowledged, the practitioners returned home.
There was no "siege" or "blockade." There was only the practitioners' desire to expose the lies that had been spread and to ensure that Falun Gong can be practiced legally in China.
What is Falun Gong?
Falun Gong is a meditation practice that was first introduced to the public by Mr. Li Hongzhi in 1992. This meditation school includes five simple exercises that are taught entirely free of charge and is based on three principles: Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. Many practitioners have found inner peace, improved health, and guidance in a chaotic world through Falun Gong. It quickly gained popularity among the Chinese population, growing from just a few dozen practitioners in 1992 to 100 million by 1999. For more information, visit www.falundafa.org.
The Persecution of Falun Gong
It is important to note that there is no legal justification for the persecution of Falun Gong in China. There is no reason to suppress and oppress 100 million Chinese citizens, and this persecution should never have occurred.
However, in 1999, the persecution of Falun Gong began, marking one of the most horrific political campaigns by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). This campaign directly targets individuals who strive to be good and are guided by the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.
Falun Gong practitioners have committed no crimes; they are law-abiding citizens. Yet, the CCP persecutes them in every possible way, including malicious slander, arbitrary arrests, torture, rape, forced labor camps, financial extortion, non-payment of wages, and expropriation of property. The persecution doesn't even spare children or the elderly.
The Communist Party of China has structured the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in such a way that the longer it continues, the more profitable it becomes.
Since 2006, the world has become aware of the practice of medically examining Falun Gong practitioners and harvesting their organs on demand. As recently as 2005, a hospital advertised a two-week wait for a matching heart online! Investigations and analyses have shown that since 1999, a new organ transplantation industry has been established. For more details, see: https://endtransplantabuse.org/de/the-issue/
The Chinese Communist Party uses every means available to persecute Falun Gong within China. Outside of China, the Party exerts influence over everything it can in order to control the narrative about China and how people perceive CCP politics abroad. The misinformation regarding Falun Gong outside of China is part of the 'Unrestricted Warfare' that the Party has been waging against the free West for years.
Shen Yun Performing Arts – An Artist Group with Courage and Integrit
'Over the past decades, the Chinese Communist Party has treated traditional culture as a threat to its rule. Through campaigns like the Cultural Revolution, it has systematically uprooted traditional beliefs and destroyed ancient treasures, bringing 5,000 years of civilization to the brink of extinction.The artist group Shen Yun has succeeded in reviving this heritage of 5,000 years of divinely inspired culture.' This is stated on Shen Yun's website.
Since its founding in 2006, millions of people have attended Shen Yun performances. Each year, Shen Yun produces a new show and tours the world with eight artist groups simultaneously. The Communist Party of China responds to Shen Yun's success with slanderous letters and bomb threats to theaters. The Party does not hesitate to issue death threats against Shen Yun artists and their families. Sabotage attempts include slashing the tires of tour buses in a way that would cause them to burst on the highway.
A reporter team from New Tang Dynasty Television followed Shen Yun for a year and produced the documentary: 'UNBROKEN: The Untold Story of Shen Yun.' For more information, visit: https://de.unbrokenshenyunmovie.com/
'UNBROKEN' is a deeply moving documentary about faith, courage, and the choice to maintain integrity in the face of slander and threats. It serves as a powerful testimony that explores the sabotage and slander faced by the artists. I encourage you to watch the film 'UNBROKEN,' Mr. Ambassador. It offers a rare glimpse behind the scenes of Shen Yun Performing Arts and showcases a group of artists who continue their mission to present ‘China before communism’, despite ongoing sabotage and death threats.
Actions have consequences
Chinese tradition has always stated: 'Those who do good will receive good in return. Those who do evil will face evil retribution.' Therefore, anyone who is a member of the Communist Party of China is also complicit in these horrific crimes against Shen Yun and against Falun Gong.
As long as one remains a member of the Chinese Communist Party, one is part of the organization that commits atrocious and inhumane acts against the Chinese people, thus becoming an accomplice. When the persecution of Falun Gong comes to an end—and it will end—the party members will inevitably be held accountable. There will be no way to escape this, whether one was directly or indirectly involved or simply chose to remain silent. No one will be able to evade responsibility. This is certain.
How to Ensure Your Safety
Dear Mr. Ambassador, if you are still a member of the Chinese Communist Party, please withdraw from the CCP as soon as possible to avoid being held accountable for its brutal crimes.
If you know party members who have committed or are still committing crimes, advise them to stop. These crimes cannot be concealed; the truth will come to light. Those who have committed crimes should quickly make amends for their actions or at least refrain from committing new ones—against Shen Yun or Falun Gong. As a party member, the only path to a happy future is to withdraw from the party.
How to Withdraw from the Communist Party of China
Quitting from the Communist Party of China is very straightforward: visit the website www.tuidang.org/ and register your withdrawal there. As of today (April 22, 2026), 460,577,734 withdrawals from the Communist Party of China have been recorded.
Since seizing power, the Chinese Communist Party has provided no benefits to the Chinese people or the world. The party cannot represent the nation of China, nor can it represent the Chinese people.
Whatever actions you take and however you choose, do not participate in the persecution of Falun Gong or Shen Yun. Educate yourself about what Falun Gong is and what Shen Yun Performing Arts brings to the world. Use your position to inform yourself and others about the true situation. Advocate for the legal implementation of the Chinese constitution and for the end of the persecution of Falun Gong!
We hope you have the courage to withdraw from this malevolent party and its associated organizations so that you are not held accountable for the party's crimes. Choose a bright and secure future for yourself, your family, and your friends.
Thank you for your attention.
With best wishes for your future, we extend our warm regards
Simone Schlegel
for Falun Gong practitioners in Switzerland
This letter was also read out by Eva-Marie Schiffer in front of the Consulate General in Düsseldorf, Germany:
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In 2024, outside the Chinese Embassy in Bern, I read out a letter to the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China, accompanied by several Falun Gong practitioners.