Forced Organ Removal from Falun Gong Prisoners of Conscience

In March 2006, allegations first surfaced of Falun Gong prisoners of conscience being deliberately killed in custody so that their organs could be used in transplant operations. Since then, a series of independent studies and analyses have uncovered evidence affirming the credibility of the allegations, although no doctor has yet to come forth and admit being directly involved in such procedures.

Taken together, the available research indicates that Falun Gong prisoners of conscience held in forced labor and prison camps across China are systematically subjected to medical testing clearly not intended to address their own ailments or injuries. The results of such tests are ultimately used to “reverse match” living prisoners to organ transplant patients such that matched Falun Gong detainees are then killed on demand to supply organs to foreign and Chinese patients.

Experts who have investigated the matter estimate that tens of thousands, possibly over 100,000, Falun Gong practitioners have been killed in this manner, generating billions of dollars in profits for Chinese security agencies and under-funded medical facilities. Recent research points to new evidence that Christian, Tibetan, and Uighur Muslim prisoners have been similarly victimized. Despite new Chinese legislation restricting the sale of organs, there is strong reason to believe that the practice continues.

Research into Organ Harvesting Allegations

Shortly after the allegations of organ harvesting from Falun Gong first surfaced, an independent investigation by prominent Canadians David Kilgour and David Matas concluded the allegations were true. In 2008 and 2009, author and think tank researcher Ethan Gutmann published his own findings of suspicious medical testing among Falun Gong and Christian detainees and estimates that the scale of forced organ removal from prisoners of conscience has reached between 13,500 and 162,000 victims.

A number of international bodies and members of the medical community have also found the allegations credible. In a November 2008 legally binding decision, the United Nations Committee against Torture called for an investigation into illicit organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners. The committee’s conclusions followed on consistent inquiries transmitted to the Chinese government since August 2006 by Manfred Nowak, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on torture, and Ms. Asma Jahangir, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on religious freedom, which have received unsatisfactory replies.

The following pages present a small sampling of writings by these independent experts raising concerns over organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners. In presenting this collection, the Falun Dafa Information Center hopes readers may judge for themselves whether the available information compels them to believe that this horrific practice is taking place and that they may take action accordingly to help end such atrocities.