Killed to Order

The allegations regarding forced organ harvesting in China are shocking and deeply troubling, yet they are supported by extensive documentation. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is accused of orchestrating a systematic program where prisoners of conscience, particularly Falun Gong practitioners, are blood-typed and tissue-matched to provide organs on demand for transplant tourists and the Chinese elite. Jan Jekielek, a senior editor at the Epoch Times and author of the book "Killed to Order: China’s Organ Harvesting Industry and the True Nature of America’s Biggest Adversary," sheds light on this dark reality.

Jekielek explains that the term "Killed to Order" refers to a state-sanctioned form of organ trafficking that goes beyond the typical black market. In China, the state plays a critical role in controlling information and dehumanizing specific groups, allowing the CCP to maintain a vast system of incarceration. This includes prisons, black jails, and re-education camps, which provide a large pool of potential organ donors—primarily innocent individuals who have been imprisoned for their beliefs or practices.

The primary victims of this horrific practice are Falun Gong practitioners, a spiritual group that gained significant popularity in China during the late 1990s. The Chinese government, under the leadership of then-dictator Jiang Zemin, launched a campaign to eradicate Falun Gong, leading to the incarceration of millions. The U.S. State Department estimated that as of 2005, around half of the individuals in China's incarceration system were Falun Gong practitioners. This large-scale imprisonment facilitates the organ harvesting process, as these individuals can be easily matched with wealthy transplant tourists who seek organs.

Despite the grim nature of these allegations, Jekielek notes a shift in public perception. Initially, many people found it difficult to accept the existence of such a system. However, recent events, such as the extreme measures taken by Chinese authorities during the COVID-19 pandemic, have made the totalitarian nature of the regime more apparent. Today, more individuals recognize the plausibility of these claims, leading to increased grassroots efforts to combat forced organ harvesting. Local organizations and legislative initiatives are emerging, with some states passing laws to prohibit insurance coverage for transplants linked to countries involved in these practices.

As of now, while there is ongoing discussion in the U.S. Congress regarding penalties for those involved in forced organ harvesting, a consensus has yet to be reached. Nevertheless, there is a growing momentum in addressing this issue, with various states taking legislative action to combat this human rights violation. Jekielek's work aims to raise awareness and encourage further action against the heinous practice of forced organ harvesting in China.