United Kingdom: People who see the Anti-Torture Exhibition in Leicester want to Help the Persecuted Practitioners in China

On the 11th and 12th of December 2004, Falun Gong practitioners from the city of Leicester and other areas of England went to Leicester city centre to hold an anti-torture exhibition and introduce people to the practice of Falun Gong.

Posters and banners were displayed detailing the horrific methods of torture used to force people who practise Falun Gong in China to renounce their beliefs. A practitioner demonstrated the small cage torture; passers by were concerned when they found out that this is happening in China right now. Although in Leicester this was just a demonstration, in China the small cage is often used to persecute Falun Gong practitioners. A small cell is a room with just enough space for one person. Since the height of the room is less than 1.5 metres, one cannot stand straight or lie down. It often has dirty water on the floor and the walls have nails protruding everywhere. There is no light at all. Victims are thrown barefoot into the cell for months. Sometimes the cell has needles covering the walls that are attached to the electricity supply. When the needles are plugged in, the victim cannot move or lean their body without being shocked by touching the needle. This stops the victim from sleeping for days at a time.

Some practitioners demonstrated the five sets of Falun Gong exercises whilst others talked to the public and handed out leaflets or newspapers revealing more about the practice and the persecution. Christmas shoppers lined up to sign a petition calling for the instigator of this persecution, former communist leader Jiang Zemin, to be brought to justice in a court of law. There was also a petition supporting efforts to rescue the family members of UK Falun Gong practitioners who are imprisoned in China. Lots of people carefully read the posters and some wanted to donate money. Practitioners kindly explained to them that Falun Gong does not accept any donations. People wondered how they can help further. Practitioners told them that they can tell their relatives and friends about Falun Gong and let other people know about the persecution in China. When the whole world knows about these terrible human rights abuses against people who merely want to practise meditative exercises and live by the Falun Gong principles of truthfulness, compassion and tolerance, this persecution will not be able to continue.