Extent of China's 'human organ farms' laid bare by international tribunal

The tribunal also heard grisly reports of organs being removed while people were still alive.
The tribunal also heard grisly reports of organs being removed while people were still alive. Photo credit: Getty Images

China is forcibly harvesting organs from tens of thousands of political prisoners, an international tribunal has found. 

For several years China has been accused of using prisoners as human organ farms, with human rights advocates claiming 1.5 million people were victims. 

The China Tribunal, which was set up to investigate those claims, has found that there is "no doubt" state-sanctioned organ farming is taking place. 

The tribunal is lead by experts in human rights, transplant surgery and international relations. 

Over a 12 month period, 50 witnesses were questioned and a wealth of evidence was examined. 

The tribunal also heard grisly reports of organs being removed while people were still alive. 

Tribunal chair Sir Geoffrey Nice said forcibly harvesting organs constitutes as political genocide and is an "unmatched wickedness." 

The tribunal found the majority of victims were political prisoners from the Falun Gong movement. 

Sir Nice said so far there is no evidence the practice has stopped. 

While China denies the practice, the tribunal says forced extractions have been taking place since at least 2001 and most likely before then, according to news.com.au. 

Newshub.