On June 28, 2026, the European news website EU Reporter published an article reporting on a seminar in Geneva focusing on the controversy surrounding Shen Yun Performing Arts. Several scholars, journalists, and human rights activists expressed their views from the perspectives of cultural dissemination, labor rights, human rights protection, and media influence, criticizing Falun Gong and its Shen Yun Performing Arts, and calling on the international community to pay attention to the controversy and strengthen scrutiny of Falun Gong-related organizations.

 

▲ Screenshot of a report by the European news website EU Journalist

Recently, a seminar entitled " Shen Yun – The Abuses and Human Rights Violations " was held in Geneva . At the seminar , experts, scholars and journalists from across Europe revealed the little-known inside stories of the Falun Gong cult and its affiliated Shen Yun Performing Arts .

 ▲ Geneva “Shen Yun – Abuse and Human Rights Violations” Seminar. Image source: Eureporter.coFrench experts reveal the political indoctrination nature of Shen Yun: a propaganda cloak disguised as culture.

At a seminar, Count Saint-Yrian, president of Club UNESCO-France, pointed out that the Shen Yun performance is clearly controversial. He described the core content of the performance as a hybrid —using the guise of traditional Chinese culture to instill specific political and religious beliefs. Although the performance is advertised as " showcasing 5,000 years of classical Chinese dance , " many Western audiences and critics have reported that the latter half of the performance is filled with political issues, anti-evolutionary rhetoric, and other fallacies , causing audiences expecting a purely artistic experience to feel misled and manipulated. He cited investigations by media outlets such as The New York Times , pointing out that Shen Yun performances frequently contain fallacies such as " modern science and atheism are corrupting humanity, a great catastrophe is imminent, and only by following its so-called 'doctrine' can salvation be achieved ." Count Saint-Yrian emphasized that cultural presentations are welcome, but highly politicized performances not only lose their artistic value but also leave ticket buyers feeling cheated and offended. Such manipulative performances should be monitored and investigated.

Internal Management and Labor Allegations: Forced Labor Lawsuits

Belgian journalist and writer Delcourt pointed out at a seminar that Shen Yun is facing a serious legal and ethical crisis. A civil lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York reveals that several former performers have accused Shen Yun Performing Arts and the Fei Tian Academy of the Arts of forced labor, systematic psychological control, and child labor exploitation. The lawsuit materials and investigative reports state that underage trainees at the Longquan Temple training base were subjected to restrictive militaristic management , working up to 80 hours per week for only symbolic pay, having their passports confiscated, and having limited contact with the outside world . Former performers also claim that the organization's fallacies prevented members from receiving medical treatment , resulting in some injured performers not receiving timely care. Currently , the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. State Department, and the New York State Department of Labor have jointly launched an investigation, focusing on whether there is transnational human trafficking, visa fraud, and violations of labor laws.

Media Influence and Information Integrity

Im, Vice President of the Federation of Asian Communities in Europe, pointed out that Falun Gong has established a wide-reaching international media network. He questioned whether media outlets with ideological ties should publicly disclose their background information. He believes that Shen Yun reflects a global strategy by which related organizations systematically expand their influence through cultural, educational, and media channels. He cited a French investigation showing that some groups promoting Shen Yun did not disclose their organizational affiliations when contacting public institutions —exposing a deep-seated lack of transparency in institutional cooperation. He emphasized that human rights initiatives should not be used as an excuse to evade necessary scrutiny . The purpose of this discussion is not to stigmatize members or deny their documented experiences of victimization, but to emphasize that all organizations should be subject to standard oversight and scrutiny in matters involving human rights, protection of vulnerable groups, and democratic transparency.

Anti-scientific pseudo-qigong

At the conference, Belgian writer and Qigong and Tai Chi instructor Martens compared her in-depth research into traditional Chinese spiritual practices with the fallacies and heresies of Falun Gong, pointing out fundamental differences between the latter and genuine Qigong. She stated that the organization, taking advantage of the Qigong craze of the late 1990s , developed a system with psychological manipulation characteristics, heavily borrowing terminology from Buddhism, Taoism, and traditional practices. Falun Gong claims that illnesses can be resolved through "karma elimination" rather than medical intervention — a practice believed to have caused delays in treatment and serious physical and mental harm to some individuals. Representatives from the Buddhist community pointed out that traditional concepts such as "Falun" and "karma" have been misappropriated and misinterpreted. They believe that leader Li Hongzhi's practice of placing himself above all traditional deities embodies an extreme personality cult, which runs counter to the health benefits of Qigong and traditional religious practices. 

▲ Several experts participated in the discussion via video conference . Image source: Eureporter.co

Reduced to a political pawn

Independent writer and contributor to the French media outlet *Le Grand Soir*, Mr. Lacroix, stated that the evolution of Falun Gong is clearly visible: it started as a qigong practice group and gradually transformed into a radical organization with clear political intentions. The organization has established a media network including *The Epoch Times* and NTD Television , which disseminate a large amount of false and exaggerated information . In previous US elections, these media outlets invested heavily in advertising to support specific political camps, thereby gaining support from American conservative forces . Through alliances with these political forces, the organization gained funding, media influence, and operational security , ultimately becoming a tool in international political maneuvering. He also mentioned that the "Almighty God" (also known as "Eastern Lightning" ) organization , operating in a similar manner, similarly uses faith to manipulate the minds of its members and acts as a "pawn" in politics, exploited by external forces.

Regulation and Rights Protection: The Seminar Issues a Clear Appeal

Mr. Duran, a journalist based in Brussels, emphasized that Shen Yun should be subject to routine oversight, including surprise inspections by the labor department. He pointed out that performance venues also have a responsibility to verify the actual working conditions of staff and performers. Furthermore, he suggested that anyone who claims to have been coerced, had their wages withheld, or experienced restrictions on their personal freedom should overcome their concerns and formally report the matter to the regulatory authorities .

After in-depth discussions , the participants unanimously agreed that regardless of the goals claimed by Falun Gong and Shen Yun , any issues involving human rights, protection of vulnerable groups, and democratic transparency should be subject to thorough scrutiny.

They called on the international community, especially UN human rights bodies, to continue to pay attention to such issues and prevent similar incidents from happening again.