Epoch Times Germany: How revered is the web newspaper?

Would you pay 0.25 cents per week for “vetted media” info? To get information “with out opinions and with out particular opinions”? The “Epoch Times” is at present promoting this in Germany. He appears to be succeeding.

The Epoch Times sees itself as an “different” platform that resonates with many individuals. In it you possibly can at present discover many criticisms of the German authorities’s insurance policies, questionable articles about vaccinations and intensive reporting on the AfD. Between 2015 and 2019, web page views on the “Epoch Times Deutschland” elevated tenfold, reaching nearly 10 million views per 30 days. This is proven by the newest statistics of the group IVW Digital, which determines the variety of hits on web sites. Compared to the preferred information websites in Germany, that is small – “Bild” had greater than 560 million views in March, “Spiegel” 170 million.

However, the variety of “Epoch Times” customers might have continued to develop. Finally, we all know from research on “different media” that these web sites get about 40 % of their visitors from social media. The following of “Epoch Times Deutschland” has grown considerably on social media: on Telegram by the eleventh since 2019, on X (previously Twitter) by the eleventh. The seventh facet, as analysis on the Internet Archive Web.archive.org reveals. The publication now has over 30,000 followers on each platforms. The editorial board of “Epoch Times” left the query about pupil numbers unanswered.

“Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance”

There is a Chinese sect behind the “Epoch Times“: Falun Gong, additionally referred to as Falun Dafa. Li Hongzhi, often called “Master Li” by followers, based it within the early Nineties. During that point, the Qigong motion had a fantastic progress, particularly within the cities. A thousand-year-old Chinese follow, based mostly on meditation, respiration and motion workout routines, crammed the non secular void in communist China.

Falun Gong mixed the workout routines with an ethical philosophy: advocate Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance, they are saying. These are “probably the most staple items within the universe” – and the trail to a cheerful life.

The group grew rapidly. According to the Chinese authorities, by the top of the Nineties it had grown to greater than 70 million followers. There aren’t any dependable figures on what number of there are at present. The group Freedom House estimates that there are 7 to twenty million worldwide.

Falun Gong members can be present in Germany and Switzerland at present with demonstrations and public stands, the place they draw consideration to themselves with posters and flyers.

The Chinese authorities is cracking down on Falun Gong

At first, the Chinese authorities supported the well being advantages of practising Falun Gong among the many individuals. Falun Gong was a part of the official, government-recognized nationwide Qigong motion. But the federal government quickly feared that it might lose management. “Master Li” resisted the rising calls for of the communists and left the Qigong Association and Falun Gong.

The authorities instantly started criticizing Falun Gong, banning “Master Li’s” books and arresting particular person leaders and followers. When about ten thousand medical doctors protested in entrance of the federal government constructing in Beijing in 1999 in opposition to the growing repression of the authorities, a brutal wave of repression adopted that continues to at the present time.

The chief of the occasion on the time and the regime, Jiang Zemin, wished to eradicate the “evil cult”. As UN particular rapporteurs wrote in subsequent years, a lot of their followers and non secular leaders ended up in prisons or compelled labor camps, the place they had been allegedly tortured, sexually assaulted and, in response to UN particular rapporteurs, even compelled to have their physique elements eliminated. elimination. Thousands of individuals have died, human rights teams say.

Since then, this non secular group has change into a corporation in opposition to the Chinese authorities. They can flee overseas. Falun Gong founder Li Hongzhi fled to America within the mid-Nineties. In 2000, a yr after Falun Gong was banned in China, Li based the Epoch Times newspaper to advertise its teachings to a Western viewers – and to marketing campaign in opposition to the Chinese authorities.

Li continues to be largely accountable for setting the course of The Epoch Times, former staff informed The New York Times. They informed NBC that Li referred to as the Epoch Times “our establishment.” His unusual speeches are additionally broadcast within the German model.

“Epoch Times” disguises itself as a daily web newspaper

But “Master Li’s” propaganda is effectively hidden on the positioning. At first look, the German web site of the “Epoch Times” seems to be like a daily on-line newspaper. There are tales from house, overseas, society, tradition and extra. Most articles come from information organizations, the positioning is up to date a number of occasions a day and reveals present occasions.

But anybody who spends a lot time with the content material will discover that “Epoch Times” at all times makes use of sure narrative patterns. The total report on China is shocking. Videos and documentaries about China are additionally revealed frequently. Example: “Secret agent reveals: This is how China’s secret police seek out dissidents world wide.”

However, a lot of the knowledge surrounding China is scandalous, fear-mongering and demonizing the ruling Communist Party. For instance, when many kids in China had been affected by lung illness final December, the Epoch Times wrote an article that mentioned: “Just like 4 years in the past – Beijing has a mysterious pneumonia.” Like the outbreak of the coronavirus in Wuhan, the clinics are in peril of collapsing, since at the moment the authorities lied about the actual pathogen and closed every thing, there isn’t a doubt that the lethal state of affairs of that point is repeating itself.

There was no new, harmful pathogen spreading, not to mention a brand new epidemic – simply frequent chilly winter viruses that had been encountering bacterial resistance. The Chinese authorities instantly notified the WHO.

However, the “Epoch Times” gave three articles on the rumors of the “mysterious” sickness inside two weeks and allowed the founding father of the cult Li Hongzhi to specific his opinion with an absurd concept: The coronavirus is directed on the Chinese Communist Party and people who act blindly. adopted the occasion. He warns that folks ought to “get away from the unhealthy group.”

The management cult round “Master Li”

“Master Li’s” teachings are innocent. Swiss theologian Georg Schmid of the church’s info heart Relinfo says: “Falun Gong is the principle motion.” The guru is Li Hongzhi – referred to as “Master Li” by his followers. His followers attribute the nice therapeutic powers of the 70-year-old man and worship him as a savior. Some Falun Gong followers are mentioned to have an image of “Master Li” hanging of their front room together with his books and writings on the cabinets, they informed a BBC reporter.

Although meditation, respiration workout routines and train are confirmed to be good to your well being, it’s not a physician’s place in case you are severely ailing. But that’s precisely what some Falun Gong members imagine. They imagine that “Master Li” can purify the physique and soul. The follow of Falun Gong may even remedy terminal most cancers, a follower informed the Epoch Times in February.

According to professional Schmid, some teachings of Falun Gong are problematic. “Master Li” represents the racist idea that folks from totally different continents shouldn’t marry as a result of kids born from blended marriages are inferior. Li additionally criticizes homosexuality. According to a survey carried out by the American political journal “The New Republic”, “Epoch Times” writers are urged to not report on homosexuality.

Believe ultimately of the world

Matthias Pöhlmann, a cult professional within the Bavarian state church, additionally dealt extensively with Falun Gong whereas researching his ebook “Right Esotericism”. He says that in response to their perception, humanity has been destroyed many occasions, few individuals have survived to offer start to new worlds. Soon civilization will finish once more, and this time solely Falun Gong followers shall be saved. This is how “Master Li” defined it in his teachings.

“In phrases of their picture, it can be crucial for Falun Gong members to persuade different individuals of their religion. This is the one means others may be saved,” mentioned Pöhlmann. For this function, amongst different issues, Falun Gong followers have established many media firms that carry the message of “Master Li” to the world.

In addition to the New Tang Dynasty Television (NTDT) channel and plenty of YouTube channels, this consists of “Epoch Times“. Today the corporate operates web sites in 36 international locations and 24 languages.

“Epoch Times” spreads rumors about Zelensky

The Epoch Times generally delves into conspiracy theories, and never simply relating to China. Students are additionally launched to “different information” in different matters. An instance is the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky. In an April article, The Epoch Times asks, “How arduous is Zelensky?” and by that you simply in all probability imply “very wealthy”.

Then there are the numerous experiences of rumors that Zelenskiy is allegedly hiding luxurious yachts and mansions from the general public. The subtext already means that Zelenskiy could possibly be a millionaire. This narrative has been circulating in pro-Russian circles for a very long time.

Since there isn’t a proof of such claims, the respectable media didn’t report. NZZ analysis confirmed that the boats and villas had been a delusion. This was by no means made clear within the Epoch Times article.

The editors left the questions of why “Epoch Times” unfold rumors about Zelensky unanswered. A member of the editorial board wrote to NZZ solely briefly that the “Epoch Times” was dedicated to “trustworthy, conventional journalism”. Facts and opinions are additionally revealed that “comprise totally different opinions concerning the points being mentioned”.

Inquiries concerning the firm’s funding, hyperlinks to Falun Gong or worker numbers had been ignored.

Promoting dance occasions in Germany

How shut Falun Gong is to the “Epoch Times” is made clear in a number of articles. In addition to the court docket reporting on “Master Li”, the stage, as an official information accomplice, frequently experiences on the occasions of the dance group Shen Yun, which originated from Falun Gong. The staff can have twelve video games in Germany and Austria within the spring and summer season of 2024.

Attendees reported that the demonstration confirmed the suppression of the Falun Gong motion in China. Apparently, yellow banners with the phrases “Falun Gong is sweet” hold getting into the stage.

“The group repeatedly makes use of its historical past to realize sympathy within the West,” mentioned cult scholar Matthias Pöhlmann. “But Falun Gong represents an elitist non secular worldview that spreads conspiracy theories and thus divides democratic society.”

This makes it clear: What seems to be like a critical media web site is definitely the mouthpiece of a cult.