Sweden: Rally Against the Persecution of Falun Gong Held in Södertälje

Falun Gong practitioners held a rally at the downtown square in Södertälje, Sweden on February 25, 2017, to raise awareness of the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) persecution of the practice. Despite the cold weather, practitioners set up large banners worded, “Falun Dafa Is Good” and “Stop the Persecution of Falun Gong,” introduced Falun Gong to passersby, and exposed the CCP's state-sanctioned organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners.

Södertälje, located about 12 miles southwest of Stockholm, is a beautiful city and well-known coastal resort, as well as an important transportation hub.

Melodious music and a peaceful exercise demonstration drew the attention of passersby. Many paused to watch the demonstration, read the posters, and sign the petition opposing the persecution and forced live organ harvesting atrocity.

Falun Gong practitioners demonstrate the exercises at the downtown square in Södertälje	A practitioner speaks during a rally opposing the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong

Some passersby were interested in learning the exercises, and signed up to learn in future free sessions. Some learned on the spot. Many expressed hope that Falun Gong practitioners would visit the city more often, and set up a practice site.

One middle-aged lady intently watched the practitioners demonstrating the exercises. She said to a practitioner, “Human beings do not only need nutrition. Actually heart and spirit are more important. Without a proper supply of spiritual nutrition, humans would lose control.”

She told the practitioner that she understood upon seeing the three words, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, that this is what she needed. She indicated that the connotation of the three words was enormous, and what she had been seeking in her spiritual quest. She asked for information about group practice sites and indicated she wanted to learn Falun Gong.

One lady held a Falun Gong flyer in her hands and was reading carefully. She said with a smile before leaving, “I know this practice is very good. I was in a bad mood earlier today. But my heart became peaceful, and my whole body refreshed as I stood here. I will learn more about this practice after going home. Thank you for coming here!”

Passersby look at posters with Falun Gong information	Some passersby learned Falun Gong on the spot

Lena was hearing about Falun Gong for the first time. She was appalled upon seeing the poster exposing CCP's live organ harvesting. She signed the petition opposing the persecution. She appreciated that the practitioners held an event there to help more people learn about Falun Gong and become aware of the CCP's persecution.

Local Falun Gong coordinator Kristina called upon people during her rally speech to spread information about the persecution to friends and family members, and help stop the unprecedented persecution in China.
Background

Falun Gong was made public in 1992 and soon spread across China due to its beneficial effects on health and morality. Nearly 100 million people were practicing it by 1999. Out of jealousy, and paranoid of losing control of the people, Jiang Zemin, former head of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), initiated the persecution of Falun Gong on July 20, 1999.

The persecution has led to the deaths of many Falun Gong practitioners during the past 17 years. More have been tortured for their belief and even killed for their organs. Jiang Zemin is directly responsible for the inception and continuation of the brutal persecution.

Under his personal direction, the Chinese Communist Party established an extralegal security organ, the “610 Office,” on June 10, 1999. The organization overrides police forces and the judicial system in carrying out Jiang's directive regarding Falun Gong: to ruin their reputations, cut off their financial resources, and destroy them physically.

The CCP even conducts state-sanctioned live organ harvesting for profit. Due to CCP information censorship, the exact number of practitioners who have died in the persecution is not known.