Understanding, Warmth and Support from the UK Amnesty International (AI) Birmingham Branch

On 17th July, UK Amnesty International Birmingham branch invited Falun Dafa practitioners in the Birmingham area to give a guest presentation at the AI monthly meeting on the persecution of Falun Dafa in China. Five practitioners attended the meeting, the youngest disciple of whom is 11 and the eldest is 74 years old.

Westerners were shocked by the brutality of the XX party
Over 20 AI members were present at the meeting. A practitioner, who was invited to speak, firstly outlined the situation worldwide before the ban by the Chinese government and the brutal persecution and killing of Falun Dafa practitioners. Because the practitioner began his practice of Falun Dafa in China, his own personal experience and citation strengthened the effect of his speech. A 15-minute video “Global SOS walk to rescue Falun Gong practitioners” then followed. One could hardly bear to watch the terrifying scenes of persecution and the appalling pictures of torture. The video images shocked these western human-right activists who were struck, in particular, by the brutality of the Chinese government who has sent Falun Dafa practitioners to mental hospitals and encouraged the forceful injection of psychiatric drugs to those healthy practitioners.

Attendees were touched
After the video showing, AI members actively raised various question ranging from the principles of Falun Dafa to its effects on healing illness, improving health and upgrading social, moral standards. We also discussed the increased popularity of Falun Dafa in China between 1992-1999 and the awards and recognitions issued by Chinese government organizations and media as well as the large-scale brutal persecution after July 1999 by the Chinese government. We spoke about the numerous practitioners stepping forward to appeal for Falun Dafa and the endeavours of overseas practitioners to rescue the persecuted practitioners in China.
Also mentioned were the over 600 awards and statements of recognition from various countries and governments. Practitioners explained and answered all the questions with a pure heart such that the meeting time had to be extended beyond the original schedule. The profound principles of Falun Dafa and the great undertaking of Dafa practitioners touched all the attendees’ hearts. Sincere and warm applause after the answer session revealed their understanding and support to Dafa and Dafa practitioners.

Although it was not new for AI members to learn the fact that the Chinese government often suppressed dissent by torture, it was still beyond their imagination that the Chinese government brutally suppressed millions of innocent people and their families who merely pursue ‘truth, compassion and tolerance’ for refinement of body and mind and who have no political intention. After the meeting, AI members continuously asked for the SOS leaflets brought by the practitioners and pledged to further support and assist Dafa practitioners.

Reported by UK practitioners