(Minghui.org) Practitioners from France held a rally near the Chinese Embassy in Paris on July 17, 2013, to protest the Chinese communist regime's 14-year-long persecution of Falun Gong. They also exposed the regime's horrendous crime of harvesting organs from living Falun Gong practitioners.

On July 20, 1999, then-head of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Jiang Zemin, launched a nationwide campaign of terror against Falun Gong. Tens of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners were illegally detained, sent to forced labor camps and prisons, and subjected to torture and brainwashing.

Many practitioners lost their homes, incomes, and families as a result of the persecution. Thousands lost their lives.

To date, at least 3,697 practitioners are confirmed to have been killed by the regime. The actual number of deaths is believed to be far greater.

Peaceful Resistance

Practitioners in Paris began the event by joining together to do the gentle Falun Gong exercises in front of the Chinese Embassy. They also set up banners and informational display boards to raise the public's awareness about the persecution.

Falun Gong, a peaceful meditation practice of mind and body (also known as Falun Dafa), is currently practiced in over 100 countries worldwide.

Many people stopped by to sign a petition to call on the Chinese regime to immediately cease the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China. Some also asked for fliers and brochures to pass on to their families and friends.

Practitioners demonstrate the Falun Gong exercises.

Banners and display boards at the event reveal the facts about the persecution.

A passerby stops to sign a petition calling for the end of the persecution in China.

Rally to End the Persecution

Mr. Tang Hanlong, president of the French Falun Dafa Association, gave a brief overview of Falun Gong and the persecution at the rally.

Tang Hanlong, president of the French Falun Dafa Association, speaks at the rally.

"As long as the CCP continues to persecute Falun Gong, we will continue to expose its crimes against humanity. We will bring to light the corrupt nature of this political cult, a cult that relies heavily on violence and lies to control the Chinese people and deceive the world," said Mr. Tang.

"The Party dresses China up as a developing country and presents that image for everyone to see. But what's behind the image? Many people don't know. Actually, the regime is the source of a lot of violence in the world, especially in China," he continued.

"To help bring peace and stability to this planet, we will continue to expose the regime's true nature. To the journalists, NGOs, democratic governments, righteous people, and all those who can hear our voices, please continue to support us until the persecution stops!"

A Voice of Justice

Renowned Canadian human rights lawyer David Matas also attended the event and gave a speech.

"I came here mainly to expose and protest [the Chinese regime’s] organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners," he said.

"Where did these organs come from?" he asked. "This is not just a question from me, but also a question from the United Nations."

"You [the CCP] said that these organs were from executed prisoners, but you dare not disclose how many death row inmates there are in China," Mr. Matas continued. "I know where these organs came from. They came from the illegally detained Falun Gong practitioners in labor camps."

"You must give a clear answer to the World Health Organization and to those people who are concerned, letting them know the sources of these organs," he advised the Chinese regime. "Otherwise, I am even more convinced that these organs came from Falun Gong practitioners!"

That same morning, Doctors Against Forced Organ Harvesting and the French Falun Dafa Association hosted a book launch and signing ceremony for the French version of Mr. Matas' book “State Organs: Transplant Abuses in China.” The event took place at the French National Assembly.

Rescuing Loved Ones

Falun Gong practitioner Zhang Chunfang, who is studying in France, recounted the plight of her mother, Zhang Deyan, who is being illegally detained and persecuted in China.

Ms. Zhang Chunfang recounts her mother’s plight of being persecuted in China.

On April 15, 2012, a dozen police officers, led by officer Peng Yue, broke into Ms. Zhang Deyan's home in Fushun City, China. They ransacked her residence and took photos and video recordings of each room.

The police confiscated pictures of Mr. Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Gong, computers, DVD players, Falun Gong books, several mobile phones, and other personal belongings. They then detained Ms. Zhang Deyan at the Nangou Detention Center in Fushun City, where she remains to this day.

Detention center officials refused to allow Ms. Zhang Deyan’s family to visit her. The only thing her family knew about her situation was that she was forced to perform slave labor for 12 hours a day.

Ms. Zhang Deyan was illegally tried in court on July 9, 2013. Only two of her family members were allowed to attend the trial. That was the first time they saw her since her arrest. Ms. Zhang Deyan looked like she had lost a lot of weight, and some of her hair had turned gray.

During the five-hour trial, her lawyer presented concrete evidence that proved his client's innocence. However, the judge refused to abide by the law.

At the close of the trial, the judge said that the court would announce the verdict within the next few days. Several weeks have now passed, and the family has yet to hear back from the court.

Ms. Zhang Chunfang said that her mother's case is very typical of how such matters are handled in China. The courts are in place to do the Party's bidding, not to uphold the letter of the law.

"For those Chinese people who still have a desire to know the truth, I would highly recommend that you quit the Party and its affiliated organizations, fight against the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong, and not join ranks with this evil regime," said Ms. Zhang Chunfang at the rally.

She added: "During the past 14 years of peacefully resisting the persecution, we have seen that the CCP has lost the goodwill and support of the people. The 142 million people who have quit the Party, as evidenced by the Epoch Times website, is testimony that these people have chosen the path of kindness. Our efforts to clarify the facts will continue until the persecution stops!"