HRIC Executive Director Speaks at Opening of "Forbidden Art" Exhibit
The exhibit is located at the European Parliament in Brussels.
On March 19, HRIC Executive Director Fengsuo Zhou visited the European Parliament in Brussels to speak on pressing human rights issues at the opening of “Forbidden Art,” an exhibition of banned artworks from China and Hong Kong, curated by activist Loretta Lau and organized by Jens Galschiøt, the creator of the renowned Pillar of Shame. Zhou and Jens have collaborated on displaying the banners of the Pillar of Shame in dozens of cities across the world.
The event was attended by cross-party MEPs including Kira Marie Peter-Hansen from Denmark, Thijs Reuten from the Netherlands, Poland's former Foreign Minister Anna Fotyga, and Portugal's Isabel Santos, who expressed concerns about the CCP's domestic human rights record and infiltration in European society. As a student leader of the 1989 protest and survivor of the Tiananmen Massacre, Director Zhou stressed the importance of remembering the 35th anniversary of Tiananmen to the MEPs, encouraging the EU and its member states to organize commemorative activities.
During the discussion, Director Zhou briefed the audience on the history of the continuing movement for democracy and freedom in China since 1989. He spotlighted the plight of activists like the Feminist Five and the emerging A4 Paper Revolution (White Paper Movement), highlighting how these movements have galvanized global attention towards China's human rights landscape. He called on the EU to bolster protection and support for Chinese dissidents abroad, especially the emerging young activists against the CCP's transnational repression. Lastly, Director Zhou advocated for the international community to elevate Taiwan's social standing and support its inclusion in global organizations, emphasizing the crucial role of democratic nations in this endeavor. Drawing parallels with Australia and Singapore's effective "anti-infiltration laws" and the U.S. approach to combating CCP infiltration, Zhou expressed his belief in the need for similar countermeasures in Europe against China’s transnational repression.
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