(Minghui.org) On May 13, 2023, a warm sunny day in Helsinki, Falun Dafa practitioners celebrated the 31^st anniversary of the public introduction of Falun Dafa and also wished Master Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Dafa, a happy 72^nd birthday at the Forum Shopping Center.

They expressed their gratitude to Master for his compassionate salvation by hosting celebratory activities that included a guitar performance, a Hulusi performance, choir singing, and group exercises. They also told people about how Falun Dafa benefits both body and mind and also improves one’s character.

Passersby smiled, nodded in agreement, and gave thumbs up. Many accepted Falun Dafa flyers, learned about the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) ongoing persecution, and signed the petition to support practitioners’ efforts to end the persecution.

Celebrating World Falun Dafa Day in Helsinki on May 13

People learned about Falun Dafa.

Anton Berg, a doctoral student from the University of Helsinki, wrote his dissertation on Uyghurs’ human rights issues. His dissertation focused on how the CCP uses technology and database information to suppress human rights in China. “I know that Falun Dafa is brutally persecuted and practitioners are even subjected to forced live organ harvesting. This information was published in the Human Rights Watch report that I have included in my dissertation.”

Anton Berg, a doctoral student at the University of Helsinki, wrote his dissertation on human rights issues in China.

“The CCP does not just target the Uyghurs, it also persecutes the Christians and Falun Dafa. These beliefs are a part of Chinese culture but are viewed as an enemy of the Party. The CCP does not like anything on the spiritual level.

“Countries should cooperate as a whole—this matter needs the attention of more people. Countries should no longer do business with China. Don’t give up and don’t turn a blind eye to the violation of human rights.”

Eylül Küpcü, a university student from Turkey, learned about the CCP’s persecution of Falun Dafa practitioners while she was traveling in Stockholm, Sweden.

“I know you are exposing the brutal ideology of communism,” she said. “Many Chinese were subjected to genocide and forced live organ harvesting. You hope for China to be peaceful, but China is a dictatorship because people do not have freedom of speech.”

Eylül Küpcü and Baran Bayraktaroglu support Falun Dafa.

Eylül Küpcü had taken Falun Dafa flyers she got in Sweden back to Finland and shared the information with her friends. One of her Chinese friends was sad to learn about forced live organ harvesting.

Baran Bayraktaroglu said, “Human rights issues are a problem in China and this must change. People should have freedom of speech and freedom of belief.”

A young man accepted a flyer and pointed to the picture of forced live organ harvesting and asked, “Where is this happening?” When a practitioner told him it was happening in China, he asked what the picture was meant to portray.

The practitioner said, “The person lying down is a Falun Dafa practitioner who is alive and conscious. Without being given any anesthesia, he is having his organs harvested while he is still alive. This has been going on since 2002.

“Falun Dafa practitioners abide by the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance to become better people. They have very healthy bodies, and from 1992 to 1999, more than 100 million people in China practiced Falun Dafa. However, Jiang Zemin, the former head of the CCP, launched a nationwide persecution campaign to eradicate it.”

The practitioner shared her personal experiences of living under constant fear and pressure in China. The man was shocked and asked, “What can I do for you?” He signed the petition to help end the persecution.

People learn the truth about Falun Dafa and sign the petition to help practitioners end the persecution in China.

Chiras, who is from India, asked for the location of group practice sites after learning about Falun Dafa. He said both he and his wife were interested in meditation, and Chiras wanted to read Zhuan Falun, the main text of Falun Dafa. He said, “This persecution should never have existed. Everyone should have basic human rights, just like in Finland.”

Katarina learned the truth about Falun Dafa a year ago. She researched human rights issues and was very sad to learn about the ongoing persecution. She said, “Everyone should be treated equally.”

Michael, a student in Helsinki, was aware of the persecution because his mother had practiced Falun Dafa in the past. His friend, Emma, stayed to watch the practitioners’ celebratory activities. She was sad to learn about the plight of countless practitioners in China and wished them well.

A Russian couple slowed their footsteps to read Falun Dafa flyers. They were happy to see that a Russian version was available and signed the petition.

Two high school students from Bangladesh and one from Finland already knew about the Uyghurs' human rights issues. They were sympathetic when they heard about the persecution of Falun Dafa practitioners. A girl in the group gave a practitioner a hug and sincerely wished that Falun Dafa practitioners in China could be safe.