Cologne and Hanover, Germany: Peacefully Protesting the Chinese Communist Regime’s Persecution
(Minghui.org) Falun Gong is based on the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. But due to its popularity and traditional values, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has persecuted the practice since July 20, 1999. The persecution is now entering its 21st year.
More than 4,500 Falun Gong practitioners are documented to have lost their lives under the persecution, although the number is likely many times higher. Hundreds of thousands of practitioners have been imprisoned in forced labor camps, have suffered physical and mental torture, and are even subjected to state-sanctioned live organ harvesting.
Every year, Falun Gong practitioners across the world conduct activities around the anniversary of the persecution on July 20 to raise awareness of the situation in China.
Rally in Cologne, Germany
Falun Gong practitioners held a rally in front of the Cologne Cathedral on July 19. A practitioner introduced Falun Gong and exposed the CCP’s persecution to the public while others demonstrated the exercises.
A practitioner also read letters of support from elected officials of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Many passers-by signed a petition condemning the persecution. The practitioners staged a peaceful protest of the persecution in front of the Chinese Consulate the following day.
Rally in front of Cologne Cathedral
Large banner exposing the CCP’s live organ harvesting
Demonstrating the Falun Gong exercises
Passers-by learn about Falun Gong.
People sign a petition against the persecution.
Protesting the CCP’s persecution in front of the Chinese Consulate
Members of State Parliament (MSP) of North Rhine-Westphalia sent letters to support the practitioners and condemn the persecution. Among the supporters were MSP Helmut Seifen and MSP Hartmut Ganzke.
A Turkish radio station interviewed practitioners and took photos. Several passers-by recorded video of the event and posted it on YouTube.
A Turkish radio station correspondent documents the practitioners’ protest.
Screenshot of a YouTube report posted by a passer-by
Raising Awareness of the Persecution in Hanover, Germany
Falun Gong practitioners conducted activities on Ernst-August-Platz in downtown Hanover on July 18.
A practitioner exposes the CCP’s persecution and gathers signatures against the CCP’s state-sanctioned live organ harvesting.
Passers-by learn about Falun Gong and the CCP’s persecution.
People sign a petition against the persecution.
Deria Buldu, a computer scientist, signed the petition calling for the CCP to stop the live organ harvesting of prisoners of conscience. She said she learned about Falun Gong from a Swiss reporter a few years ago. She'd learned that Falun Gong practitioners were imprisoned in China, and that the CCP killed Falun Gong practitioners to harvest organs for profit.
“Because the bodies of Falun Gong practitioners are the healthiest in the world and they have positive energy, their organs are the most valuable,” Ms. Buldu said.
Jahn Duster shows his support for Falun Gong practitioners.
About a year ago, Jahn Duster learned about Falun Gong in Hanover.
“I oppose the CCP and communism because they had never played a good role,” Mr. Duster said. “I have learned about what happened in China. Some things the Chinese government does are crimes.”
Duster believes that meditation can help people gain inner peace.
“I think the three words, 'Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance' are very important,” Duster said. “Every rational society should have these values.”
Relevant article in Chinese: Hanover, Germany