Falungong appeals for release of supporters

The Falungong meditation group has appealed for the release of thousands of supporters jailed in China.

The group's Hong Kong-based members have issued a letter urging the immediate, unconditional release of all Falungong followers detained in China.

It alleges that supporters held in Chinese labour camps and detention centres face torture, "brainwashing", slave labour and rape.

It calls for an immediate end to the ban on Falungong and the persecution of its followers.

The Chinese government outlawed the popular meditation movement in July 1999, deeming it an "evil cult" that it views as a threat to the public and to communist party rule.

It denies any mistreatment of the thousands of Falungong followers detained for defying the ban.