Netherlands: Practitioners Hold Events to Expose the Persecution of Falun Dafa

Falun Dafa practitioners in the Netherlands hold activities every week to tell people about Falun Dafa and raise the awareness of persecution in China, in cities like Amsterdam, Hague, Rotterdam, and Utrecht. People from all walks of life learn about Falun Dafa and facts about the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution of the spiritual discipline that has been going on for 24 years.

Practitioners held activities in the bustling central railway station in the center of Utrecht on October 9 and 16, 2023. They displayed informational banners, demonstrated the Falun Dafa exercises, distributed leaflets, collected signatures, and told people how the CCP harvests organs from living practitioners. Many people stopped, read the information, and talked with practitioners. They were shocked to learn how the CCP brutally persecutes Falun Dafa. Many expressed their opposition to this persecution, and praised practitioners for their steadfast commitment to the values of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.

IT Company Director: The World Should Not Condone Organ Harvesting

Mr. Mishra, a senior director at HCL Technologies, a multinational IT company, came to the booth on October 16 and signed a petition calling on the Dutch government to help end the CCP’s persecution of Falun Dafa practitioners.

Mr. Mishra was deeply shocked by the CCP’s practice of harvesting organs from living practitioners, and the denial of practitioners’ freedom of belief. He said, “If these were voluntary donations or obtained from the deceased, that would be acceptable. But the (CCP’s) practice of forcibly extracting organs (from living individuals) is even more heinous than how animals are treated. This is treating humans as if they were crops to be harvested on a farm. This should not be accepted by the world.”

Mr. Mishra said he is a meditation enthusiast. He sympathizes with Falun Dafa practitioners and understands their wish to improve their bodies and minds through practicing Falun Dafa. “Meditation is a good thing. It can help focus attention, elevate morality, enhance spirituality, and make one a good person in society. It has no harm at all.” He said, “People can become peaceful, contribute to society, and be more constructive. This has been proved by many scientific studies and facts.”

Mr. Mishra said that he would share the information he learned from practitioners with his friends and family. Before leaving, he once again strongly condemned the CCP’s practice of organ harvesting from living practitioners, “Anyone involved in such activities, even if they played a small part, should no longer call themselves human beings.”

Architect Condemns the CCP for Harvesting Organs from Living Practitioners

Stuart, an architect, came to practitioners’ booth on October 9. He said he strongly opposed the CCP using practitioners as an organ bank. He said, “This is terrible. (The CCP) treats people as material, property, and things to be harvested, as if they were a resource, rather than treating them as human beings.” He signed his name on the petition calling to end the persecution. He said that practitioners do not harm anyone and they should have the freedom to practice. He said he admired Falun Dafa’s values of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, “These should be universal values. You know, upright people should all strive to follow (Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance).”

Students Support Practitioners in Calling to End the Persecution

High school student Bilal passed by the information booth on October 9 and signed the petition. He expressed his great admiration for practitioners’ tranquility while doing the exercises. “They (practitioners) catch everyone’s attention. They meditate quietly. It makes you wonder what on earth they are doing.”

Enschede University mathematics student Russi said that the persecution launched by the CCP is unreasonable. “I think there is nothing wrong with meditating. It is a good way to stay healthy. I don’t understand why this is considered a bad thing.”

Russi signed the petition and said he believes that Falun Dafa is a good practice, especially in today’s society. “I think it’s a positive practice method. We need more positive things, rather than fear. We need more things to bring people together rather than separate them. Such activities are beneficial for humanity.”

Chef: Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance Are Beneficial for Everyone

People who signed the petition come from diverse backgrounds and various professions, but they all share a common stance in openly opposing the CCP’s persecution of Falun Dafa.

Dristan, a chef who works near Utrecht’s central railway station, expressed his support for Falun Dafa and Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance to practitioners on October 9. “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are what everyone should follow. That will benefit everyone’s life. Because if we all do this (follow Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance), we can treat each other nicely and dissolve hatred.”

He said, “(People should) support you, you’re doing a great job.”