英國保守黨人權委員會副主席、「香港監察」創始人羅傑斯（Benedict Rogers）今（4日）發表聲明，譴責《大公報》連日來對法輪功的污衊報道及對香港法輪功學員、《大紀元》記者的跟蹤、滋擾，表示「完全無法接受」。他指出，法輪功學員受到的威脅象徵香港的宗教信仰自由受到進一步侵蝕，呼籲中共政權停止對香港乃至世界任何地方法輪功學員的迫害。

羅傑斯聲明（中文及英文）全文如下：

近年來，中共當局連番違背《中英聯合聲明》，不斷蠶食香港的自由。去年，香港頒佈了殘酷的國安法，基本自由、人權和自治更是分崩離析。表達自由、集會結社自由及參與民主抗爭的政治自由已經從這片土地消失，如今學術自由、新聞自由和宗教信仰受到的壓力也日益增大。

香港法輪功學員受到的威脅令人憂心，這象徵著香港的宗教信仰自由受到進一步侵蝕。《大公報》的聲明、其對在港法輪功學員的騷擾及中共對《大紀元時報》印刷廠的襲擊，是完全無法接受的。

法輪功是一個和平的精神信仰，法輪功學員亦不會對任何人構成威脅——在我眼中，他們代表著「真、善、忍」的美好價值，為人慷慨大方、親切善良、熱情友好。

很抱歉，我不能出席今日的抗議活動，但是我和你們站在一起，在精神上支持你們。我與你們共同促請中共政權停止迫害世界各地的法輪功學員，遏止對香港法輪功學員的威脅。

我還想藉此機會促請中共政府遵守《世界人權宣言》第18條，尊重世界各地人民的宗教信仰，無論他們持何種信仰、有無信仰。我也呼籲國際社會發聲維護香港人民的信仰自由和人權。

羅傑斯 Benedict Rogers
2021年5月4日

STATEMENT FROM BENEDICT ROGERS, CO-FOUNDER AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF HONG KONG WATCH

Over recent years Hong Kong’s freedoms have been increasingly eroded, in repeated breach of an international treaty, the Sino-British Joint Declaration. The dismantling of Hong Kong’s basic liberties and rights, and autonomy, has accelerated dramatically over the past year since the imposition of the draconian National Security Law. Freedom of expression, assembly and association, and political freedoms to engage in the pro-democracy struggle, have disappeared and academic freedom, media freedom and now freedom of religion or belief are under increasing pressure.

The growing threats to Falun Gong practitioners in Hong Kong represent a deeply concerning situation, and illustrate the increasing infringements of freedom of religion or belief in Hong Kong. The statements by Ta Kung Pao, combined with recent harassment of Falun Gong practitioners in Hong Kong and the attack on the Epoch Times printers, are totally unacceptable.

Falun Gong is a peaceful spiritual movement and Falun Gong practitioners pose no threat to anyone – indeed, in my experience, they represent the beautiful values of truthfulness, compassion and forbearance and offer nothing but generosity, kindness and hospitality.

I am sorry that I am unable to be present in person at this protest today, but I am with you all in spirit and solidarity and I join with you in urging the Chinese regime to desist from persecution of Falun Gong anywhere and to cease threats to restrict Falun Gong practice in Hong Kong.

I also urge the Chinese government to respect the basic right for everyone, everywhere, of all religions and faiths and those of no faith, to freedom of religion or belief as set out in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. And I call on the international community to speak out in defence of this right, and all human rights, for the people of Hong Kong today.

Benedict Rogers
4 May 2021

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