The Falun Dafa Information Center has issued a formal protest against a recently published article on the digital news portal Sylhettoday24, titled “The Falun Gong organization and its leaders Lies and the Dark Side.”

In a letter addressed to the editor, Albert Roman, a representative of the center, claimed that the article is riddled with factual inaccuracies and mirrors external political propaganda.

The protest specifically targets what the center calls "medical misinformation" within the report. Contrary to the article's claims, the center clarified that Falun Gong teachings do not prohibit practitioners from seeking hospital treatment or using medicine. They supported this by citing a 1999 report from China’s own National Sports Commission, which had praised the practice for its significant health benefits and its potential to save the state billions in medical costs prior to the commencement of the 1999 persecution.

The rebuttal also pointed out significant factual errors regarding specific individuals. The center noted that the article even misspelled the name of John Nania and falsely claimed he had avoided medical care. According to the protest letter, friends of Nania confirmed that he had, in fact, consulted multiple doctors for his health conditions.

Furthermore, the Information Center challenged the author’s use of unverified statistics, particularly the claim regarding the deaths of over 40 practitioners outside of China. The center questioned the source of such highly personal and unverified data, suggesting that these figures often originate from state-controlled media without any independent oversight. They also criticized the author for omitting widely documented human rights issues, including international investigations into state-sanctioned forced organ harvesting from practitioners in China.

Addressing the issue of editorial responsibility, the letter emphasized that while news portals often use disclaimers to distance themselves from a contributor’s opinion, publishers remain legally and ethically accountable for amplifying defamatory or reckless allegations.

The Falun Dafa Information Center has formally requested Sylhettoday24 to either remove the controversial article or publish their full response to ensure balanced reporting and safeguard the reputation of the news portal.

Editorial Note:
Sylhettoday24 has always served as a platform for free speech and independent opinions. The article reflects the personal views and observations of the author. However, in light of the formal protest and claims of factual inaccuracies raised by the Falun Dafa Information Center, we have taken the matter seriously. In line with our commitment to journalistic integrity and balanced reporting, we are publishing their rebuttal to provide our readers with a comprehensive perspective on the issue.