Mr. Speaker, petitioners want to draw the attention of the House of Commons to the following. Since the CCP's rule of China, it has implemented state atheism and perceived religion and believers as a threat to its rule. This is why in 1999 the CCP initiated a campaign of persecution against perhaps millions of Falun Gong practitioners due to the practice's growing popularity in the country. Falun Gong is a Chinese spiritual discipline with moral teachings of tolerance, compassion and truthfulness, with millions of adherents all around the globe.
Liu Zhoubo is the father of Jack Liu, who is a resident of Ottawa. Liu Zhoubo was unlawfully imprisoned from 2001 to 2009 for clarifying the truth regarding Falun Gong. In 2021, he was kidnapped from his home in Langfang City. He was detained for two years in Beijing No. 3 Detention Centre. He was a person who faced religious persecution and was a prisoner of conscience.
Other members have given different comments about this, but I have talked to Falun Gong practitioners who have been imprisoned. It is a very serious situation, and this is an important petition.