Finland: Exposing the Persecution of Falun Gong During the European Union Meeting

On October 20th, leaders from the 25 member countries of the European Union held an informal meeting in Lahti. In the evening, Russian President Putin joined the other leaders. Taking this opportunity, some Helsinki practitioners came to the city to expose the persecution of Falun Gong and the CCP's atrocities of organ harvesting to the general public. They also appealed to the European leaders to condemn the persecution and take actions to stop the organ harvesting atrocities.

Appeal at the city centre

Young girls signed a petition to support Falun Gong

A reporter interviews a practitioner

In the morning, the practitioners went to the city center, outdoor markets and streets. They distributed fliers exposing the CCP's atrocities of harvesting organs from living Falun Gong practitioners and collected signatures. They also held signs supporting Chinese people who have withdrawn from the CCP.

Many passersby accepted the fliers, from which they learned about the CCP's organ harvesting atrocities and brutal persecution of Falun Gong. Some also chatted with the practitioners to learn more details. A store owner told the practitioners: "What you are doing is very good, thank you very much!"

A local radio station interviewed the practitioners. When the reporter asked a practitioner what message the practitioners bring to Lahti citizens, the practitioner said: "Severe persecution is happening in China, and the CCP is harvesting organs from living Falun Gong practitioners and destroying evidence by cremating the remains. The world should demand an independent investigation of these atrocities, and we need your help."

After accepting a flier, a couple wanted to donate money to us. A practitioner said: "We don't accept donations, but you can sign our petition to show your support." They immediately signed the petition. Once, a police vehicle passed by, and the police officer stopped to acquire a copy of the flier.

In the afternoon, they went to the building where the summit was held to distribute fliers. Several demonstrators helped the practitioner to display a banner that read, "Strongly Condemning the Chinese Communist Party for Harvesting Organs from Living Falun Gong practitioners and Cremating the Remains to Destroy Evidence in Concentration Camps." The practitioners also displayed photos exposing the brutal persecution. At the site, almost everyone accepted the practitioners' fliers and many signed their petition.

The practitioners' appeal also attracted media attention. Several reporters interviewed the practitioners, who told them about the organ harvesting atrocities and a recent case in Russia. Due to the CCP's overseas persecution, several Falun Gong practitioners' visa applications to Russia were rejected when they were planning to attend a Falun Dafa experience sharing conference.

The practitioners also told the reporters, "We hope that the European leaders will learn more about the persecution of Falun Gong." When asked if they believe their voicing were being heard, a practitioner replied: "Finland currently holds the presidency of the Council of the European Union, and we hope that the Finnish government will raise this severe crime of the CCP to the Council. We have tried to clarify the truth to them through all possible channels and the Finnish media have carried many reports on the persecution. We believe that they can hear our voice."

A practitioner said she was very touched to see that so many people are concerned about the persecution and have expressed their support and goodwill.

A Chinese practitioner said, "It is impossible to have an appeal like this in Mainland China. Whoever dares to criticize the ruling Communist Party will end up in prison or worse. For example, renowned lawyer Gao Zhisheng is now in custody because he insists on fighting against social injustices. For Falun Gong practitioners, they are arrested immediately when they go to Beijing to appeal and could be killed for their organs. We know that violence, terror, and hatred form the foundation of the CCP. To date, the Minghui website has documented that near 3000 Falun Gong practitioners have been persecuted to death, while the actual number is much higher. We will continue to explain the truth to the public, spread the Nine Commentaries, and expose the evil nature of the CCP to encourage all Chinese to denounce the CCP and eventually end the persecution."