China's Rules For Olympic Visitors Bars Falun Gong Materials or Activities

The Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong issued a press release yesterday calling attention to the disparate treatment of Falun Gong members who will be attending the 2008 Winter Olympics in China. Apparently the News Director of the Beijing Olympics media center in Canada responded to criticism of religious restrictions, saying that the government would allow athletes and tourists to bring religious objects for their personal use during the Olympics. However, he said, this does not apply to Falun Gong practitioners since Falun Gong texts and activities are outlawed in China.