Falun Gong Has Irrefutable Cult Features: Chinese Social Sciences Circles

Xinhua News Agency, November 1, 1999

BEIJING (Nov. 1) XINHUA - Chinese social science scholars today said that Falun Gong has all the features of heretical cults which endanger all of society.

The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), China's top think-tank, today organized a special symposium for criticizing the Falun Gong sect and its founder Li Hongzhi.

"Li concocted and disseminated fallacies on doomsday and a so- called global explosion," said Lu Zhongfeng, researcher from the Institute of History. "Under the pretext of religion, the cult persuaded its believers to depart from mainstream society," Lu said, "therefore, it is a kind of spiritual opium."

He agreed with the central government's decision to crack down on the cult, and urged the whole society to thoroughly combat Falun Gong. The National People's Congress Standing Committee, China's top legislature, adopted a decision Sunday on banning and punishing cults like the Falun Gong sect.

In addition, the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People' s Procuratorate made legal explanations on punishing Falun Gong- related criminals.

Chen Zexian, a researcher from the Institute of Law, said that the unprecedented legislative step to fight against heretical cults shows the state's policy of the rule of law. (more) 01/11/99 14:16 GMT