Turkey: Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance Art Exhibition Evokes Compassion and Conscience

From the 19th to the 24th of February 2010, the Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance International Art Exhibition was held at the renowned Yunus Emre Culture Centre in Istanbul. The art exhibition not only greatly impressed local people from various walks of life, it also evoked compassion and conscience for many of the attendees.

Visitors were moved by the justice and kindness expressed in the artworks in the exhibition. Many attendees expressed their indignation and condemnation of the inhuman treatment of Falun Gong practitioners by the Chinese Communist regime in its persecution of Falun Gong.

President of Women's Association: This exhibition is of great significance

The President of the Turkish Contemporary Democratic Women's Association, Ms. Firdevs Ermis, and other members of the association visited the art exhibition together.

After condemning the atrocities of the Chinese Communist regime, Ms. Ermis told Falun Gong practitioners who organized the exhibition: "Because some media intentionally avoided reporting these things, many atrocities committed by the Chinese Communist regime have been covered up all this time. I thank you for organizing this kind of exhibition in Istanbul. It is of great significance. You should let more people know what is happening."

Lawyer: I wholeheartedly support you

Lawyer Mr. Ender Yazicioglu learned of the Chinese Communist regime's persecution of Falun Gong through this art exhibition. After viewing the artworks one by one, he told practitioners: "During the viewing of the exhibition, the situation of the persecution of Falun Gong really made my hair stand on end. It is terrible. I hope the persecution will be stopped as soon as possible. I wholeheartedly support you."

Mr. Ender Yazicioglu hopes this persecution will end soon.

Medical doctor: No one should suffer persecution for their belief

Dr. Ayfer, who is in charge of the Gynaecology Department in a large hospital, visited the exhibition the first day. The next day she brought many of her relatives and friends to the exhibition. Dr. Ayfer wrote in the guest book: "Merely because people practice a cultivation that is beneficial to health and moral improvement, they are subjected to such brutal torture. This is really shocking. No one should suffer persecution and torture because of their belief. This persecution must be stopped."

Dr. Ayfer brought many of her relatives and friends to see the exhibition.

Retired teacher: The artworks express Falun Gong practitioners' great compassion and tolerance

Retired teacher Ms. Fatma Kocatepe, who has 26 years of teaching experience, was deeply moved by the artworks in the exhibition: "These artworks perfectly expressed the spirit of Falun Gong practitioners' great compassion and tolerance. At the same time, they also vividly portrayed the brutal persecution. When I see these good people suffer persecution for no reason, I really cannot bear it."

Businessman: I strongly condemn the brutal and inhuman persecutors

Among the visitors were businessman Mr. Ahmet Kurt and his wife. After viewing every piece, he expressed his great indignation towards the Chinese Communist regime's atrocities. He said: "Just because people have their own belief, they were put into prisons and subjected to torture and inhuman treatment. This is horrible. I strongly condemn these brutal and inhuman persecutors."

Justice and kindness will ultimately defeat evil

Ms. Yasemin Metin read the description for every piece with tears in her eyes. She said that the artworks portraying Falun Gong practitioners being persecuted are really shocking. She couldn't have imagined that in the 21st century today, there are still such barbaric and brutal acts. "This terrible persecution against these good people who follow the principles of truthfulness, compassion and forbearance is unacceptable to any person with conscience. The evil may prevail for a while, but ultimately justice and kindness will defeat the evil."

Ms. Yasemin Metin read the description for each of the artworks with tears in her eyes.

Housewife: God will surely punish the persecutors

Ms. Havva Sen visited the art exhibition for three consecutive days. Every time, she was hesitant to leave. She said to practitioners that these artworks have had a profound impact on her and made her want to see them again and again. She wrote in the guest book: "These evil people who use torture to persecute innocent people, even not sparing children, will definitely have no good end. God will surely punish them."

Ms. Havva Sen visited the art exhibition for three consecutive days.

Middle school students plan to inform their schoolmates of the persecution

During the six-day art exhibition, many students from various universities, middle schools and primary schools came to visit the exhibition in groups. Students from Tuncay Azaphan middle school said that they were moved by the true stories behind every piece. They took photos of the artworks and planned to introduce the art exhibition and the persecution occurring in China in their school magazine to help more people learn about the Chinese Communist regime's atrocities. Finally students took a group photo before their favorite piece, "Buddha."

Students from Tuncay Azaphan middle school take a group photo in front of their favourite piece, "Buddha".	Nine-year-old Elif Coruk (left) views the artwork with a young Falun Gong practitioner.

Primary school student: I like Falun Dafa very much

Nine-year-old primary school student Miss Elif Coruk came to see the exhibition with her mother. A Falun Gong practitioner, who is about the same age as the young girl, explained the background of each piece as they carefully viewed all of the artworks. Finally Elif wrote in the guest book very neatly: "I like Falun Dafa very much. I think Falun Dafa is really good. These Falun Gong practitioners are all very very good people. I don't understand why the Chinese Communist regime wants to persecute them. I hope these bad people who participated in the persecution receive proper punishment."

The guest book is full of messages supporting Falun Dafa and condemning the Chinese Communist regime's atrocities.