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Falun Gong practitioners in the city of Oulu participated in an expo in the small city of Raahe to tell local people about Falun Gong and the persecution. A few weeks later, practitioners came back to hold a class for people who were interested in learning the Falun Gong exercises. One of the participants in the class was a reporter from the local newspaper and she came to write an article about Falun Gong. She felt that the exercises were peaceful and relaxing. Here is an excerpt from the article.
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Extract from Finnish Newspaper “Raahen Seutu”
21.7.2003
Jenni Heikkilä
Human Rights Out
This cultivation practice, also known as Falun Gong, has raised some specific discussion and action in China. In the beginning, the practice, founded by Li Hongzhi, received a good welcome, but after it became hugely popular, the [Chinese] leadership became nervous.
[The Jiang regime] announced that Falun Gong was illegal four years ago. Practitioners were imprisoned and all materials regarding cultivation were confiscated. The persecution is still ongoing.
“I think that the persecution results from jealousy. Because Falun Gong people dare to raise the issue of human rights in public. In China, dissidents are not allowed. Everyone who knows the current situation, knows this”, the practitioner explains. “The Chinese government talking about terrorism is shocking. How can something that is so good and purifying be labelled as illegal?” one practitioner asks.
Practitioners make it clear that cultivation is not about politics, let alone about religion. “Practitioners of Falun Gong have never done anything bad. The Chinese government’s talk about terrorism is propaganda,” a practitioner explains.
Facts about Falun Dafa:
- Consists of five sets of exercises.
- Cultivation method has effects for health. It also improves morality.
- Falun Dafa and Li Hongzhi have received more than 800 honourable mentions around the world.
- The practise also known as Falun Gong came to the public in 1992. It is thought that the Chinese government became afraid of the huge popularity of the movement. China started a persecution against it in July 20. 1999.
- The number of practitioners is difficult to estimate. It is said that there are over 100 million people practising Falun Dafa in more than 60 countries.
- Practitioners say that the Chinese authorities have imprisoned and tortured practitioners.
- All Falun Dafa of Falun Dafa are non-commercial. Practitioners emphasise that it is free from political, religious and selfish aims.
- All activities are free.
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