U.S. Congressional Hearing Publishes Transnational Repression Statement, Elderly Falun Gong Practitioner Dies in Custody

Dear Reader,

On June 24, the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission (TLHRC) of the U.S. House of Representatives held a hearing to examine trends in transnational repression and explore potential policy responses.

Alongside the expert witnesses and Commission Co-chairs who testified in person, the Falun Dafa Information Center (FDIC) also submitted a written statement for the record detailing the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) escalating transnational repression against Falun Gong practitioners. The TLHRC later published the FDIC’s statement on its official website.

Also in this issue:

• A 68-year-old Falun Gong practitioner died while being held and persecuted in a psychiatric hospital in Huizhou City, Guangdong Province.

• Shen Yun Performing Arts and other defendants filed a motion to dismiss a civil suit brought by two former performers, revealing their connections to a Chinese government-run dance academy.

• In the face of 26 years of persecution by the CCP, Falun Gong practitioners have received over 13,000 international statements of support.

Lastly, we’re pleased to share a video of Falun Dafa practitioners joining Washington D.C.’s Independence Day parade. With vibrant energy and uplifting music, the 130-member Tian Guo Marching Band—the largest Chinese band in the parade—led the contingent, followed by a beautifully decorated float featuring the Falun Dafa exercises and celestial maidens.

FEATURE STORY

Death threats targeting Falun Gong, Shen Yun and supporters from March 2024 through July 13, 2025. Total amount documented by the Falun Dafa Information Center: 152.

What’s new? 

On June 24, the U.S. Congressional Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission (TLHRC) held a hearing on transnational repression to which the FDIC submitted a written statement for the record. Among its key points, the testimony outlined how since 2022, the CCP has intensified its global repression of Falun Gong. Top-down directives, including from Xi Jinping, have driven a surge in tactics targeting practitioners abroad—especially in the United States—including via Beijing-backed social media influencers, anonymous violent threats, lawfare, media manipulation, attempts to co-opt government agencies, and impersonation schemes.

A major concern is the rise in anonymous violent threats. Since early 2024, over 140 threats—ranging from bombings to sexual violence—have been sent to practitioners, their families, officials, and venues like theaters where Shen Yun Performing Arts was performing. The threats, often coordinated and nearly identical, escalated sharply in December 2024. Though no attacks have occurred, the campaign has triggered alarm and caused heightened security nationwide.

Why does it matter? 

The growing scope of this repression not only endangers Falun Gong communities but also threatens American freedoms, legal integrity, and national sovereignty. The methods employed—such as impersonations, cyber harassment, and lawfare—are also deployed against other Chinese dissident communities as well.

What else do you need to know?

U.S. lawmakers and agencies are being urged to take decisive action. Recommendations in the testimony included prosecuting individuals and foreign agents behind these threats, monitoring CCP-linked proxy groups, and expanding transnational repression safeguards to include Falun Gong. The U.S. Senate is also being urged to pass the Falun Gong Protection Act (S.817), which would reinforce protections and signal U.S. support for religious freedom.

PERSECUTION IN CHINA

Mr. He Jingru, a 68-year-old resident of Huizhou City, Guangdong Province, died on May 20, while being held in a psychiatric hospital for practicing Falun Gong.

Before his final detention, Mr. He had endured more than 25 years of persecution for his unwavering faith. He was repeatedly arrested, sentenced to a total of 18 years in prison, and subjected to severe torture aimed at forcing him to renounce his beliefs.

The CCP’s use of psychiatric institutions to persecute Falun Gong practitioners has been widely documented and condemned by international human rights organizations. Mr. He’s death may be part of a broader, systematic pattern of politically motivated psychiatric abuse. Independent investigation, oversight, and accountability are urgently needed to prevent further atrocities.

TRANSNATIONAL REPRESSION

On July 7, Shen Yun Performing Arts and other defendants filed a motion to dismiss in a civil suit filed by two former performers in the Southern District of New York. In a statement published on July 8, Shen Yun pointed out that the plaintiffs had demonstrated a strong desire to study at Fei Tian Academy of the Arts and Shen Yun. They left the company in 2015 after violating the school’s code of conduct or failing to reach artistic standards required for admission to Fei Tian College. For years, they continued to volunteer for Shen Yun and Falun Gong-related organizations.

According to the statement, “Now, many years later and after they say they made connections with Beijing Dance Academy—a Chinese government-run entity whose leadership is dominated by Chinese Communist Party (CCP) members—the plaintiffs have filed a lawsuit filled with allegations, which reframe their experiences to portray them in a twisted light [and] stand in stark contrast to the content of a petition signed by over 750 current and former Shen Yun performers that describe such allegations as ‘gross distortions and false narratives.’”

Justin Butterfield, an attorney representing the defendants said, “This lawsuit ignores the First Amendment and maligns practices and experiences that are common to religious schools and elite dance academies across the country. Essentially, their allegations reveal nothing more than the fact that their parents enrolled them in an elite dance training academy with a religious foundation. Furthermore, the plaintiffs’ allegations do not raise any violations of federal law.” If the motion to dismiss is granted, the lawsuit will be dismissed.

INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT

A U.S. flag that flew over the Capitol in Washington D.C. on May 13, 2025. (The Epoch Times)

Since the CCP launched its campaign in 1999 to eradicate Falun Gong, the global response has steadily undermined its efforts. Instead of being silenced, Falun Gong practitioners have garnered widespread international support. Over the past 26 years, according to data compiled by Minghui.org, the community has received approximately 13,000 proclamations, letters of support, and legislative resolutions from around the world. Notably, more than 7,400 of these expressions of support—over half—have come from U.S. federal and state-level elected officials, signaling broad bipartisan recognition of the group’s resilience and human rights concerns.

This support continues today. For instance, on May 13—World Falun Dafa Day—the U.S. flag was flown over the Capitol in honor of Mr. Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Dafa. The flag raising was requested by members of Congress from Delaware, Rep. Sarah McBride and Sen. Chris Coons, as part of formal acknowledgments recognizing the peaceful spiritual practice and its global impact. These actions reflect a consistent pattern of public affirmation for Falun Gong amid the ongoing persecution by the Chinese regime.

Last July, Levi Browde and Larry Liu of the Falun Dafa Information Center published an op-ed revealing how the Chinese regime’s internal documents expose its most candid assessment of Falun Gong. Despite public claims that the practice is marginal, leaked speeches and directives show that suppressing Falun Gong remains a top priority for the CCP, tied directly to “national political security.”

The CCP continues to invest massive resources to monitor, detain, and pressure practitioners, including through disinformation campaigns, monetary rewards for informants, and global harassment efforts. Overseas, the regime targets practitioners with surveillance and influence operations aimed at silencing dissent and manipulating foreign institutions. These internal documents debunk the notion that Falun Gong is a past issue and highlight its enduring relevance in understanding both the CCP’s repression tactics and broader trajectory of human rights and dissent in China.

The Diplomatic published the op-ed on July 10, 2024.

VIDEO

National Independence Day Parade in Washington D.C. on May 13, 2025. (Minghui)

On July 4, Falun Dafa practitioners participated in the Independence Day parade in Washington, D.C., celebrating America’s 249th birthday with lively music and vibrant energy. The 130-member Tian Guo Marching Band, the largest Chinese band in the parade, led the group. An ornate float showcasing the Falun Dafa exercises and celestial maidens followed them. Tens of thousands of spectators along Constitution Avenue warmly welcomed their presence, sharing the universal values of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.