Finland: Falun Gong Practitioners Call for an End to the Persecution by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)

On August 9th, Falun Gong practitioners in Helsinki, Finland used their weekend and held an activity in Esplanade Park to raise awareness about Falun Gong and expose the CCP's nine-year inhuman persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. In particular, the practitioners condemned the increased arrests of practitioners in the lead-up to the Olympic Games.

People read information boards while a practitioner discusses the persecution over a loudhailer

In the park, tourists from many countries including the United States, Germany, Italy, Poland, Sweden, Turkey and France were enjoying the summer sunshine. People slowed down upon seeing banners reading “Falun Dafa is Good” and “Stop the evil CCP from Persecuting Falun Gong”. Some accepted leaflets reading while walking, some stopped to look at the display of information panels, some came forward to ask questions, and still others went directly and signed the petition showing their support.

Passersby chat with practitioners and sign a petition condemning the persecution of Falun Gong

“I have signed the petition supporting you before,” said a lady when Dr. Li, a Falun Gong practitioner politely gave leaflets to a foreign couple. But that gentleman puzzled asked, “Why does the CCP persecute Falun Gong?” Dr. Li told him that Falun Gong was so effective in both improving one’s health and moral standard that it had attracted nearly 100 million people to practice in just a few years, about which the CCP is very frightened. The evil nature of the CCP is destined not to tolerate the principle of “Truthfulness, Compassion and Tolerance” that it has forced Falun Gong practitioners to give up their belief by torturing them. After hearing this, the gentleman said, “I’ll read the material carefully.”
Having accepted leaflets, two tourists from Italy told Ms Jiang, Falun Gong practitioner, “We know Falun Gong and have signed the petition supporting the anti-persecution before. In Italy, everybody has freedom in faith, but in China, people are not allowed to do so. This should not have happened.
Two old ladies from the USA took some photos of the activity after accepting leaflets. Whena practitioner spoke to them, one of whom said, “We know Falun Gong. My grandson now works in Shenzhen, China.” Ms Jiang asked her to tell the truth to her grandson, she said that he knew Falun Gong. Both of them expressed that they were very pleased to meet Falun Gong practitioners here.

Sinikka, a practitioner said that several members from Amnesty International in Finland also signed the petition supporting Falun Gong when passing by.

While watching practitioners demonstrating the exercises, a well dressed Russian lady said, “It is so beautiful!” and she then started to learn. She signed the petition before leaving. When found that Russian material were available, she was so delighted that she asked for one more.

On the same day, there were also some Chinese people accepting Chinese leaflets. Among them, a young lady working on an oil tanker felt reluctant to accept the materials and did not believe that Falun Gong is being persecuted in China but she thought that everyone should have freedom in their faith and she also appreciated Falun Gong practitioners’ peaceful attitude when clarifying the truth. Later, she accepted the material, saying that she would read it carefully and said good-bye to the practitioners in a friendly manner.