Italy: Falun Gong Practitioners Protest against the Russian Authorities’ Deportation of Ma Hui

Some Italian Falun Gong practitioners held a protest at the Russian Embassy in Rome and Russian Consulate in Milan on the 3rd and 5th of April, in protest against the Russian authorities’ deportation of Falun Gong practitioner Ma Hui and her daughter. They urged the Russian authorities to take action to correct their mistake.

The Italian Falun Gong Association submitted a protest letter and some related material to the Russian Embassy. The police on duty outside the Embassy expressed their great sympathy and support. Some Embassy staff walked out and asked for leaflets to read. One Embassy official saw the posters written in Russian on his way to work and then he came up for more information. Practitioners gave him a copy of the Russian version of the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party and the Canadian investigation report about the practice of the organ harvesting on live Falun Gong practitioners in China. He also took some leaflets and a copy of the protest letter.

The next day, the Margherita Party of Italy published on its website a report about this event and the ruthless persecution of Falun Gong practitioner in China and it re-emphasised that it was even more important to stand fast at and respect human rights under the background of economic development and business interest and it deserved recognition from Europe and the world.

Around the Russian Embassy, there were many Italian government buildings. A number of government staff and ordinary people took leaflets and information about the Chinese people’s withdrawing from the Communist Party. Many of them asked to how to provide more help.

On the 5th of April, practitioners held a protest at the Russian Consulate. One Consul came to the protest site and talked with the president of the Italian Falun Gong Association Mr. Fawa and he said their Embassy in Rome had received the protest letter and they would report to their government.

A Radical Party member from Lecce Mr. Maria came to take part in the protest in Milan. He brought a poster made by himself with him and hung it in front of his chest. On his orange poster, there was a Falun symbol, some lotus flowers and the words ‘Return freedom to Ma Hui’.

On the posters prepared by Italian Falun Gong practitioners, it said in both Russian and Italian ‘Wake up, Russia, or you will not be forgiven by history. It is illegal to deport Ma Hui and her daughter. Is there still any law in Russia, or only business interest? Russians, do not sell your conscience to the evil Chinese Communist Party’.