Violent Threats Made Against Australian PM in Attempt to Shut Down Major Cultural Performance

Shen Yun Performing Arts’ curtain call at HOTA Home of the Arts, in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. NTDOrganisers of a touring cultural performance have received extraordinary threats implicating Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and officials.The New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts, which seeks to revive 5,000 years of Chinese civilisation, will begin its Australian tour in just a few days.The group was founded by artists fleeing the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)’s persecution of spiritual practice Falun Gong, and over the last few months, has been subject to repeated anonymous and Chinese consulate-backed threats.In an email on Feb. 10, local organisers were sent a Chinese-language—albeit, poorly-worded—message that reads: “If Shen Yun performance goes ahead something will happen to Anthony Albanese.”The email body threatens the “personal safety of Anthony Albanese and all other Australian high officials” if the shows go ahead.“It doesn’t matter as long as you can afford the cost. I won’t try to talk you out of it anymore. Just don’t regret it later.”