Latest News from Iceland

On the afternoon of Friday 14th June, Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, saw a peaceful protest march by over 1000 Iceland residents. This appeal was due to the refusal by the Icelandic authorities to allow a large number of Falun Gong practitioners to enter the country during Chinese president Jiang Zemin´s 3-day visit. Practitioners have been prevented from boarding aeroplanes in airports throughout Europe and the U.S., as well as being sent home after reaching Iceland.

The Icelandic people feel deeply enraged by their governments bowing to pressure from the Chinese authorities and preventing practitioners from entering the country. They marched through the capital, the majority carrying banners reading "Falun Dafa is Good" and "Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance" many of which were homemade. The banners could be seen throughout the centre of Reykjavik hanging from shop windows and flying from car aerials. Many Icelanders wore gags over their mouths to symbolise the voice of freedom and justice that is being muffled under the orders of the Chinese President.

The enormous amount of people who turned out to support Falun Gong practitioners barred from Iceland and to call for an end to the persecution, is a prominent message that they do not agree with the recent actions of their governments. Those who took part ranged from pregnant ladies with toddlers, to construction workers to elderly men. One lady stated; "99.9% of Icelanders do not agree with our Governments’ actions. What they are doing is wrong and we are here to support you."

The Iceland media is packed with Falun Gong, in the newspapers and on the television, radio and websites. Reporters who interviewed practitioners stated that 100% of the media is completely supportive and that they are deeply disappointed with the actions of their government. Falun Gong practitioners continued to clarify the truth of the persecution to the Icelandic parliamentarians and celebrated the goodness of Falun Gong with the Icelandic people.