(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners held activities outside the Chinese Embassy and Parliament House in Helsinki, the capital of Finland, on July 18, 2022. They peacefully protested the 23-year-long persecution of Falun Dafa practitioners by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), clarified the truth about Falun Dafa (also called Falun Gong), and talked to people about bringing the unprecedented persecution to an end.

Practitioners started the day’s activities by demonstrating the Falun Dafa exercises outside the Chinese Embassy. Behind the practitioners were banners worded “Falun Dafa is Good,” “Disintegrate the CCP, Stop the Persecution,” and, “Stop the CCP’s Live Organ Harvesting.” 

The CCP has illegally imprisoned and cruelly tortured Falun Gong practitioners since the persecution began in July 1999. It has gone so far as to harvest practitioners’ organs while they are still alive for sale for transplant surgeries. These criminal acts are still ongoing.

Falun Dafa practitioners in Finland protest the 23 years of persecution by the CCP outside the Chinese Embassy.

In the afternoon, practitioners displayed banners on the lawn outside the Parliament House, in the busiest section of Helsinki. They demonstrated the exercises to the peaceful exercise music, distributed fliers, collected signatures on a petition calling for an end to the persecution, and called for the disintegration of the CCP.

Practitioners demonstrate the exercises outside the Parliament House of Finland

Raising awareness of the persecution outside the Parliament House of Finland attracts the attention of passers-by.

Wishing Practitioners the Same Freedom as the People of Taiwan

Lawrence hopes that people in China will soon also have the freedom to cultivate in Falun Dafa.

Lawrence, an American who once lived in Taiwan for a period of time, told a practitioner, “I heard about Falun Dafa already close to 10 years ago. I’ve also visited Hong Kong. Falun Dafa was allowed to be practiced in Hong Kong at that time. People can also practice freely in Taiwan. I hope that this can continue. Actually, people who practice Falun Dafa are very peaceful. I hope that they can meditate freely.” 

Lawrence added, “Many Chinese people are watched closely. If they say something ‘wrong,’ they are monitored. However, people are free in Taiwan. I sincerely hope that China can have the same freedom as Taiwan.”

Oscar, a high school student, stopped by the Falun Gong demonstration with his mother. He said that he only knew that the CCP does not talk about human rights, but he did not really understand much about the persecution of Falun Dafa. He was eager to get a flier to find out more. 

He was drawn to the small lotus flower beside the petition forms. A practitioner told him that in China’s traditional culture, the lotus flower symbolizes the spirit of resiliency and purity, growing out of the mud without being stained by it. Oscar responded, “I like the Chinese traditional culture very much. I am studying Confucius’s works. The Chinese culture is so vast and profound. It is really a pity that the CCP has destroyed this traditional culture.” His mother added, “I do not like the CCP.” Oscar decided to sign the petition to show his support for Falun Dafa practitioners’ efforts to call for an end to the persecution.

Michael (right) said, “Your event is very important; everyone can see it.”

Michael, a music freelancer, said, “Too many crazy things are happening everywhere in this world but I persist in the belief that the world is going to change. Even if people are not willing to face the dark side, they will ultimately be awakened. Your event is very important; everyone can see that.”