European Falun Gong practitioners recently held rallies in front of embassies and consulates to protest the Chinese government's denying Wang Zhiwen, a former well-known coordinator, from travelling abroad to visit his daughter in the US.
Wang was formerly an engineer at the Ministry of Railways. He was also one of the main coordinators for the former China Falun Dafa Association (Falun Dafa is also known as Falun Gong). He was arrested in Beijing on July 20, 1999 because he was a coordinator, when Jiang Zemin, former head of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), initiated the persecution of Falun Gong.
Wang was imprisoned for nearly 15 years, during which time he was tortured by various means. His teeth were all broken down, and his nails were pierced with sharp picks, and he was deprived of sleep for up to seven consecutive days. He was handcuffed and shackled with 50 pound shackles while being locked in a tiny cell alone.
Wang was released from prison in 2014, and has since been under surveillance by local police and government officials. His daughter Danielle Wang, a U.S. Citizen, and son-in-law Jeff Nanarella went to Beijing recently to bring him to the U.S. They helped him get a visa, but the border patrol in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province revoked his passport and blocked his travel abroad as he was leaving China last week.
Rally in Front of The Palace of Nations in Geneva, Switzerland
Falun Gong practitioners held a rally in front of The Palace of Nations in Geneva, Switzerland on August 12, 2016, calling for attention to practitioner Wang Zhiwen.
Falun Gong practitioners in Switzerland expose the plight of practitioner Wang Zhiwen on the square in front of The Palace of Nations in Geneva |
At the rally, practitioners condemned the CCP's persecution of Wang and other practitioners, and requested that the government reissue Wang’s passport and allow him to travel abroad.
The event caught the attention of many passersby. Over one hundred people signed the petition, expressing their sympathy and support for Wang.
Protest in Front of Chinese Consulate in Frankfurt, Germany
Falun Gong practitioners held a peaceful protest in front of the Chinese Consulate in Frankfurt, Germany on August 12, 2016. Many Chinese people coming to conduct business at the consulate paused to watch the practice demonstration and protest.
Falun Gong practitioners protest in front of the Chinese Consulate in Frankfurt |
Protest at Chinese Embassy in Warsaw, Poland
Practitioners held a similar protest in front of the Chinese Embassy in Poland on August 13, 2016.
The large banner reads “Restore freedom of Wang Zhiwen to visit his daughter” |
Munich, Germany
A similar protest took place in Munich, Germany on the afternoon of August 12, 2016. Falun Dafa practitioners in Bavaria, Germany gathered in front of the Chinese Consulate in Munich, urging the current Chinese regime to reissue Wang Zhiwen's passport, and bring Jiang Zemin and Zeng Qinghong to justice.
Practitioners peaceful protest in front of the Chinese Consulate in Munich, Germany, calling for freedom for Wang Zhiwen |
Scherb and his wife are both Falun Dafa practitioners. They drove more than 400 km to participate in the protest. Mr. Scherb said that Mr. Wang has the right to be reunited with his daughter in the U.S. and there is no excuse that the CCP restricts Mr. Wang's freedom after having persecuted him for nearly 16 years.
The wife said Mr. Wang and she are both Falun Dafa practitioners, but Mr. Wang suffered such severe persecution in China. She wants to express her wish for freedom for Mr. Wang and all the Falun Dafa practitioners in China.
Angela Hannig is an educator in Germany who lives near the Chinese Consulate. She was shocked to hear about the CCP's forced organ harvesting from living Falun Dafa practitioners in China and immediately signed the petition calling for an end to the atrocity.
Oslo, Norway
Falun Gong practitioners in Oslo held a peaceful protest in front of the Chinese Embassy to Norway on August 13, 2016, calling for the Chinese Communist Party's regime to allow Falun Gong practitioner Wang Zhiwen to travel out of the country. On August 16, Falun Gong practitioners in Melbourne, Australia, held a protest in front of the Chinese Consulate for the same reason.
Mr. Wang Zhiwen, a well-known former coordinator of the Falun Dafa Association, was denied travel abroad to visit his daughter in the United States. The practitioners called for the government to reissue Wang's passport and allow him to travel abroad.
In front of the Chinese Embassy in Norway, Falun Gong practitioners protest China’s invalidating Wang Zhiwen’s passport |
Appeal in Front of Chinese Embassy in Bratislava, Slovakia
Falun Gong practitioners staged an appeal in front of the Chinese Embassy in Bratislava on Thursday, August 11, 2016, calling for Mr. Wang Zhiwen’s freedom. Mr. Wang, a Falun Gong practitioner who has been subjected to severe persecution in China, was recently blocked from traveling to the U.S. to unite with his family.
The rally was covered by national radio and online news outlets. The practitioners also delivered a letter to the embassy's mailbox, requesting freedom for Wang Zhiwen.
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