A tribunal initiated by the International Coalition to End Transplant Abuse in China concluded that China illegally harvested the organs of prisoners, sometimes while they were still alive.
The conclusion, delivered yesterday, focused on the ruling Communists Party’s use of torture and organ harvesting from specific populations. The tribunal found that the majority of the organs harvested were from Falun Gong practitioners, a form of meditation that the Chinese leadership views as an “evil cult” that encourages disobedience. The report also investigated the recent imprisonment and harboring of organs from Uyghur Muslims. The statement concluded that “Crimes Against Humanity against the Falun Gong and Uyghurs has been proved beyond reasonable doubt.”
The tribunal further investigated if China’s treatment of both parties constituted genocide. Since they were unable to know the intent of the Chinese with their behavior toward both groups, they were unable to conclude that they had committed genocide. However, they noted that the proper authorities need to investigate if a genocide did occur.
“[There] is a duty on those who have the power to institute investigations for, and proceedings at, international courts or at the UN to test whether Genocide has been committed,” the statement said.
China has had a troubling record on human rights in the past. After President Xi Jinping declared himself ruler for life, the Communist Party has made efforts to clamp down on human rights. According to the Human Rights Watch, China has continually attacked journalists, gone after those who dissent and disagree with the government, and have tightened their grip on surrounding territories.
The report concluded that anyone who interacts with China should be aware they are “interacting with a criminal state.” China and the UN have yet to issue a response.
