"The Biggest Challenge Was That No One Wanted to Believe It"

Inside FQM's Conversation with Jan Jekielek

One of the most important moments of the FQM Magazine D.C. Inaugural Gathering at La Maison Française at the Embassy of France in Washington, D.C., was an onstage conversation with Jan Jekielek, recipient of the FQM Author of the Year recognition for his book Killed to Order.

The discussion explored journalism, truth, human rights, and the emotional weight of investigating some of the darkest realities of the modern world.

Publisher Isabelle Karamooz and Award Honoree Jan Jekielek

When asked what first compelled him to pursue the subject explored in his book, Jan reflected on the early years of his research and the moment he realized the issue was no longer simply a story to investigate, but a moral responsibility.

“I had heard rumors that something like this could be happening,” he explained, referring to allegations of forced organ harvesting in China. “Then a whole body of evidence started emerging in early 2006.”

One of the moments that deeply impacted him involved a transplant surgeon whose patient had been promised a new heart in only two weeks.

“There’s just no way that could be happening in an ethical fashion,” Jan said.

As additional whistleblowers and testimonies emerged, he realized the issue was far more serious than many initially understood.

“It was a very, very dark thing,” he said quietly.

Throughout the conversation, Jan spoke candidly about the difficulty of investigating a subject that many people initially refused to believe.

“For the longest time, the biggest challenge was simply getting people to grasp that this could even be real,” he explained. “No one really wanted to listen to it. No one wanted to believe it.”

Yet over the years, he has witnessed a significant shift.

“Today, when most people hear about it, they’re ready to grasp that it’s real,” he said. “We might actually be able to make a dent in this issue.”

The conversation also touched on the emotional toll of working for years on subjects involving crimes against humanity and human suffering.

Jan reflected on how prolonged exposure to difficult material can gradually change the way journalists process painful realities.

“You get desensitized to it,” he admitted. “I can talk about this issue while eating breakfast, and sometimes you lose sight of how dark it actually is.”

At another point during the evening, the discussion turned toward the broader role of journalism today and whether true objectivity remains possible in a deeply polarized media environment.

“I think the best we can do today is explain to people where we’re coming from,” Jan said. “The key part is that we seek the truth without a preconceived notion.”

The conversation also explored why the issue discussed in Killed to Order matters beyond the immediate subject of the book itself.

“The subtitle of the book is The True Nature of America’s Biggest Adversary,” Jan explained. “I think understanding that true nature is important because the cost of getting it wrong has cost this country a lot.”

At the same time, he emphasized that the issue ultimately transcends politics.

“This is a basic humanity issue,” he said. “People from many different perspectives would agree that it should stop.”

Throughout the discussion, Jan repeatedly returned to the importance of dialogue, awareness, and truth-seeking—themes that strongly resonated with the spirit of the evening itself.

Although the conversation addressed serious and difficult subjects, it also reflected something larger: the role thoughtful journalism can still play in creating awareness, encouraging reflection, and opening conversations that many people may otherwise avoid.

You can watch portion of the live conversation on FQM’s YouTube channel: