Executive Summary

1. The AAIC is grateful for the opportunity to make this submission and commends the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (the Committee) for undertaking an inquiry into Australia’s efforts to protect freedom of religion and belief.
2. The AAIC’s submission will respond to the Committee’s terms of reference by providing:
   • An overview of forced organ harvesting in China;
   • Persecution of Falun Gong practitioners China;
   • Breaches of international human rights of prisoners of conscience inChina and national laws in Australia; and
   • Action taken to protect the freedom of religion or belief of prisoners ofconscience in China and prevent human rights violations or abuses of

     this right.

   • AAIC Recommendations
3. AAIC calls on the Australian government to take action to expose, condemn, and work to eradicate the serious crimes being committed in China which constitute a form of religious persecution, and thereby seriously undermine the human right of freedom of religion or belief.We make this submission to bring this issue to the attention of the Committee. We understand that this is an issue that is difficult to come to terms with, and that there is no easy solution. However, we ask you to remain open and to seek out the truth as a moral and legal duty to ensure that we do not repeat the senseless and inhumane killings and persecution of the Jewish people some 80 years ago. We walk with new knowledge gained from the experiences of our past, and this submission is to assist you so that the Committee is fully aware of the religious persecution and human rights occurring in China, and the discrimination which occurs in Australia as a result of religious persecution. We trust the Committee will endeavor to take all action to prevent such atrocities and to pave a new future for all those who rightfully and freely choose to practice their own spiritual beliefs.

See full submission for EOP AAIC recommendations