Germany: "I gained a new life today"

Solingen is a city in West Germany, which was not well known at all fourteen years ago, but with a big fire taking place on November 23rd, 1992, it became a spotlight of the world. At that time, some right-wing extremists launched an anti-foreigner campaign, and threw beer bottles filled with gasoline at foreigners’ residences, leading to a big fire. Five Turkish women became victims, which caused quite a stir not only in Germany but also in other parts of the world. People rallied to condemn this hostile behaviour one after another and numerous wreaths were laid in front of the burned buildings.

Nevertheless, all these can never cover the scar of this tragedy. The deceased are gone, but those who survive the tragedy will never forget the nightmare.

Over ten years have elapsed. One day over twenty Falun Gong members came to that city, holding activities to expose the facts about the Chinese Communist regime’s persecution against Falun Gong. Many passers-by were attracted to watch the demonstration of Falun Gong exercises and view the displayed photographs and information boards.

When passing by our display booth along with his wife, a Turkish man carrying two big shopping bags in hand stopped to gaze attentively, with his mouth opened, at practitioners. Then he let his wife go first, and he himself remained to look at the demonstration of the exercises and view our materials. After a long while, he circled around the booth several times, and then he talked to different practitioners, but most of the time, he simply looked at the practitioners from the sidelines, with his mouth open. He almost stayed with the practitioners all day long. Throughout the process, he had never put down the two heavy big shopping bags. He just kept carrying them with him.

When he was about to leave, he talked to practitioners, “You may still remember the big fire in Solingen over ten years ago. My relatives were among victims of the fire. That big fire changed my attitude toward life. Since then on, I no longer believe that there are kind-hearted people in the world. However, after observing you almost the entire day today, what made me feel incredible is that you are not here for yourselves; but instead, you are here to earnestly tell people what happens in China. I can feel that you are kind-hearted people. You have really changed my mindset. I feel like I regained new life today."