Open letter to the People of Iceland from Falun Gong Practitioners

(Clearwisdom.net) We Falun Gong practitioners, from around the world, appeal to you, the people of Iceland, since currently there are some difficulties for Falun Gong practitioners to enter your country, as a result of the pressure and defamation from the president of China.

Falun Gong, a traditional Chinese practice of self-improvement, focuses on the universal principles of "Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance." It incorporates five sets of beautiful and relaxing exercises to strengthen the mind and body. Falun Gong is now practiced and enjoyed by millions in over 50 countries. All Falun Gong activities are open to the public, and its benefits to the people and society have been well recognized worldwide.

In 1999 the Chinese president ordered a vicious defamation and persecution campaign against the group out of his own jealousy and fear of its unprecedented popularity.

In the past three years, over one hundred million innocent people who wish to follow "Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance" have been persecuted in China. Hundreds of thousands of people have been sent to prison, labour camps and psychiatric hospitals and tortured there. Over a thousand have already been persecuted to death. Even as we speak, this brutal persecution is still continuing.

A vicious tool the Chinese president uses to justify his persecution is the propaganda he spreads to defame Falun Gong worldwide. He uses this to deceive and pressure other countries to help aid him in his persecution by complying with his orders. This is why we have come to Iceland, to expose the atrocities the Chinese president is responsible for and to clarify the true situation so that the people of Iceland will not be deceived by the lies and think bad about good people.

In the past three years, despite extreme brutalities, Falun Gong practitioners continue to embody the core principles of "Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance". Their peaceful appeals and compassion has won the hearts of people worldwide including the police in many countries. Human rights groups around the world have awarded Falun Gong practitioners for their role in protecting freedom of thought and belief. The tremendous support from many governments, kind hearted people around the world and the international community has already made a great difference and can continue to save lives. Your help can make a difference too.

Although we have only been here for a few days, we've already received a warm welcome and support from the kind hearted People of Iceland. We have contacted the President's office and the Prime Minister's Office; we have also met with the Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice to tell them about why we are here and to express our wish to fully cooperate while we are here. We want to openly assure everyone that we will always comply with all laws and regulations willingly. We will continue to clarify the true situation to the government officials and clear all misunderstandings so they too can understand the goodness of Falun Gong and the seriousness of the persecution in China.

The people of Iceland should be proud of your worldwide reputation as a country that actively stands up to protect the rights of fellow human beings. We ask the Iceland government to please allow Falun Gong practitioners to come to peacefully appeal for the lives of innocent people being persecuted in China. We trust the Icelandic government will do what is right and continue to position themselves in the international community as supporters of human rights and freedoms.

Sincerely,

Falun Gong Practitioners
June 10, 2002