(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners held activities at Dam Square in Amsterdam on July 15, 2023 to mark 24 years of their peacefully protesting the persecution, and to commemorate practitioners who were persecuted to death by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party). Amnesty International and other organizations issued statements to condemn the persecution and support their efforts.
Practitioners held an event at Dam Square on July 15, 2023.
Mourning Practitioners Who Were Persecuted to Death by the CCP
The event started at 1 p.m. Photos depicting the CCP’s Persecution of Falun Dafa were displayed. Tourists and local residents chatted with practitioners and learned about Falun Dafa’s principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance and what Falun Dafa is. The event also exposed the CCP’s 24-year-long persecution of Falun Dafa and its crime of harvesting organs from practitioners. Many people signed the petition to end the persecution.
After the speech, practitioners demonstrated the Falun Dafa exercises. Amid the bustle of the busy square, the soothing music and their slow and gentle exercise movements attracted many people.
People sign the petition to end the persecution.
Amnesty International and Other Organizations Issue Statements to Express Their Support
Amnesty International Netherlands issued a statement expressing support for practitioners’ efforts to expose the persecution. The statement reads: “In 1999, the Chinese (communist) government set up the “610 Office” to oversee the suppression of Falun Gong. As a result, tens of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners have been arbitrarily detained and tortured and other ill-treatment forced to renounce their spiritual beliefs.
“On the 24th year since China’s crackdown on the Falun Gong movement, Amnesty International calls on the Chinese authorities to immediately release all those imprisoned solely for exercising their right to freedom of belief and expression.”
The NGO, the Gerard Noodt Foundation for Freedom of Religion or Belief, also issued a statement in support of Falun Gong.
The statement reads, “Since July 1999, the Chinese (communist) government has brutally suppressed Falun Gong practitioners and launched a large-scale propaganda campaign to slander Falun Gong practitioners. For the past twenty-four years, the CCP has continued to persecute Falun Gong and its practitioners. Thousands of Falun Gong practitioners have been arrested, detained and subjected to various forms of abuse. They were forced into labor camps, prisons and psychiatric hospitals. Reports of torture, forced labor, sexual abuse and even organ harvesting began to emerge, causing shock and condemnation from the international community.
“Despite severe repression, Falun Gong practitioners remain strong in peaceful resistance. They risked their lives to stand up for their faith and peacefully demand an end to the persecution. Their indomitable spirit has inspired countless individuals and organizations around the world to join them in their struggle for justice and freedom.
“It must be noted that the persecution of Falun Gong not only violates the principle of inalienable human rights, but also undermines the principles of freedom of religion, freedom of expression and freedom of association.
“We must not turn a blind eye to the suffering of Falun Gong practitioners. Let us stand in solidarity with the countless Falun Gong practitioners who have been unjustly persecuted in China. As global citizens, we have a responsibility to speak out against persecution! End this ongoing repression immediately!”
People Condemn the Persecution
Kaylee from Scotland was shocked when she heard that the CCP harvests organs from practitioners while they are alive. “It is unfair and disgusting to persecute practitioners who meditate peacefully.”
She said, “The principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are very beautiful, and this is a beautiful characteristic that the whole world should accept. But those who believe in Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are killed and their organs are removed and transplanted! This is the worst suffering inflicted on a person, especially because the person is killed. It’s horrible, it’s too barbaric, and it should not happen. The Chinese government must stop the persecution immediately. The world should pay attention.”
Adil from Pakistan signed the petition condemning the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong and organ harvesting. He said, “It is not a good thing that Falun Gong has been persecuted by the Chinese government. Falun Gong is about meditation, which is good for people’s spirits, so I strongly condemn this persecution which should be stopped immediately.”
Anouar and Nassim, two university students, both said the CCP’s persecution should stop immediately.
Anouar said, “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good, and everyone should be considerate and tolerant of each other. I know the nature of the CCP; it is very dark, very cruel. I investigated what the Chinese government did, they did a lot of bad things. What they did was terrible... Organ harvesting is inhumane and no country should treat its own people in this way.”
Nassim also said, “When I heard that they are harvesting [practitioners’] organs while they are alive, I feel very sad. This is inhumane and unjust. The Chinese government needs to behave like a real government, not just brutalize people.”
Carmen, from Ireland, and her husband were visiting the Netherlands. When they passed by the rally, Carmen told practitioners that she knew about the CCP’s live organ harvesting. “Our son lived in China for eighteen months. When he came back he told us many things. Among them is the CCP’s evil of organ harvesting. We were shocked and couldn’t believe it.
“Because our son lived there, we know it’s true. We feel sorry for you. This [the CCP] is a very, very corrupt government. Very unfair to people.”
Carmen’s husband said, “Our son will not lie to us, so we know that it is not fake, it is real happening in China. The persecution must stop immediately.”
As he watched practitioners do the exercises he said, “This meditation practice is a calm thing. They look relaxed, which is good.”
Oya Sakin, a nurse, and her husband Fuat condemned the CCP’s atrocities of organ harvesting. They said, “This is an inhumane act, and we firmly oppose it. Those who do this do not conform to the normal level of morality, conscience.” Oya also said, “If a person believes in Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, then he is a person with a conscience. He won’t hurt anyone! You are on the right path!”
Background: What Is Falun Dafa and Why Is the CCP Persecuting It?
Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong) was first introduced to the public by Mr. Li Hongzhi in Changchun, China, in 1992. The spiritual discipline is now practiced in over 100 countries and regions worldwide. Millions of people who have embraced the teachings, which are based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, and have learned the five exercises, have experienced improved health and well-being.
Jiang Zemin, former head of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), perceived the spiritual discipline’s growing popularity as a threat to the CCP’s atheistic ideology and on July 20, 1999, he issued an order to eradicate the practice.
Under Jiang’s personal direction, the CCP established the 610 Office, an extralegal security organization with the power to override the police and judicial systems and whose sole function is to carry out the persecution of Falun Dafa.
Minghui.org has confirmed the deaths of thousands of practitioners as a result of the persecution over the past 24 years. The actual number is believed to be much higher. Countless practitioners have been imprisoned and tortured for their faith.
There is concrete evidence that the CCP sanctions the harvesting of organs from detained practitioners, who are murdered to supply China’s organ transplant industry.
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Category: July 20 Events
