Norway: Falun Gong’s First Introduction in the Eastern Town of Hønefoss

Falun Gong practitioners from Oslo gathered in the town of Hønefoss on the morning of September 2, 2017, to celebrate the 11th Ringerike Day. They set up a booth, and displayed posters that informed people about the mind and body benefits of the practice, as well as that Falun Gong is a spiritual discipline that has been persecuted by the Chinese Communist regime since 1999.

Hønefoss is the administrative center of the municipality of Ringerike. The quiet little town was packed with participants on the day of the event. Hundreds of companies, organizations, and groups set up their booths and celebrated the event with music, dancing, and food. Tourists and residents from neighboring towns also came to join the celebration. The Falun Gong practitioners took the opportunity to distribute Falun Gong fliers to the participants. They hoped to help people understand the practice, and to raise awareness of the persecution.

Several practitioners demonstrated the five sets of Falun Gong exercises with the relaxing music, which drew the attention of passersby. Several people mimicked the practitioners’ movements, and many watched them out of curiosity. Quite a few people stopped to listen to the details of the persecution. Some showed their approval of the practitioners’ courage to speak up against the persecution.

Falun Gong practitioners tell participants of the 11th Ringerike Day what Falun Gong is, and about the persecution

People who came to the event in Hønefoss were shocked to learn that the brutal suppression has been ongoing for 18 years. They were in disbelief that in this modern day civilization there is still state-sanctioned organ harvesting from people who are incarcerated for their faith.

Some were angered by the crime, “It must be stopped!”

Some were in disbelief by the extent of brutality. One said that one of his relatives married a woman from China. He said, “I will show them the flier.”

Those who learned about the atrocities signed the petition calling for an end to the persecution and the crime of live organ harvesting.