Note: Ms. Xiong Wei, a Chinese Falun Gong practitioner, was a long time student and resident of Germany. When she went to visit her family in Beijing, she was arrested and sent to the Qinghe Detention Center. Subsequently a "Xiong Wei Rescue Team" has been established in Germany to secure her release.
To help rescue Xiong Wei, we three students went to collect signatures on petitions in front of the student's cafeteria in Heidelberg on June 26. This was the second day of the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. An international human rights organization had initiated an activity of collecting signatures on petitions days before. We used the same petition letters.
Not only did many German students sign petition letters, but also some Chinese students signed them. A Chinese student, who has been in Germany for less than a year, said that what she heard about Falun Gong in China was bad, while what she learned about it abroad was so good. This was a great shock to her. When I told her the story of Xiong Wei she was moved. After hesitating for a short moment, she signed her name on the petition letter.
Another Chinese student who has been in Germany for less than a year, asked if it is true that Falun Gong practitioners are cruelly tortured. I told him the truth while showing the victims' pictures. After he listened to the truth, his face became very serious. He was indignant at the persecution. He then grasped the pen and signed his name quickly without saying a word. He put the pen down and said emotionally: "You've been working hard! Thank you!"
Category: Rallies & Protests
