Falun Dafa around the World: Istanbul, Turkey – the Crossroads of Europe and Asia (Photos)
(Clearwisdom.net) Turkey's most famous city, Istanbul, is located at the eastern end of the Balkans and is a major port on the Black Sea. The city is historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople. The Bosphorus Strait, setting the boundary between Europe and Asia, splits the ancient city into two. Istanbul thus became the only city in the world that is part of both Europe and Asia. Today, it is the largest city of Turkey, and it is also the financial, cultural and economic center of the country.
In June 2001, a group of Falun Gong practitioners from Switzerland traveled to Turkey to introduce the teachings of Falun Dafa. Prior to that, the Turkish people had never heard of Falun Dafa, and did not know about the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China. The Swiss practitioners visited Istanbul first. Everywhere they went, people learned about Falun Dafa for the first time, and since then, Falun Dafa began to be known in Turkey. A decade later, Falun Gong has flourished and is now practiced in other cities in Turkey.
Exposing the Chinese Communist Party's persecution of Falun Gong at the famous city square
Turkish Falun Gong practitioners gathered in the city center of Istanbul. Many local media outlets came to report the event.
Exercise demonstration by Falun Gong practitioners of various ages
On August 15, 2009, a group of Turkish Falun Gong practitioners held a rally on Istanbul's famous Taksim Square to expose the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) criminal persecution of Falun Gong. They called on the Turkish people to help put an end to the decade-long brutal persecution.
Over the weekend, many people went to the square. Falun Gong practitioners displayed large banners reading "Falun Dafa is good," "Disintegrate the CCP, and, "Stop the persecution." They also set up a poster display telling about Falun Gong and how it is embraced worldwide, as well as showing how the CCP is persecuting Falun Gong. The event attracted many visitors.
Practitioners spoke to media reporters and the crowd about Falun Gong, talking about the physical and mental benefits of the practice and its worldwide spread since 1992. The practitioners also talked about the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong, exposing how since July 1999, the CCP has been taking extreme measures to try to "eradicate" Falun Gong. The most appalling crime has been the harvesting of organs from living practitioners for lucrative profit. The practitioners called on the Turkish government, the media, and people from all walks of life to help put an end to the brutal persecution.
The event gained the support of many people, locals and tourists alike, who signed the petition condemning the CCP's persecution. Severalpolice officers on duty near the event broke their professional habit of keeping silent and said to the practitioners, "You are doing a great job!"
Three of Turkey's largest news agencies – IHA, Cihan and Dogan News Agency, and TV stations ATV and Show TVs – as well as Turkey's largest newspaper, Free Press (Hurriyet), dispatched reporters to cover the event.
Introducing Falun Dafa on Turkey's Largest Private TV Station
Since October 14, 2010, SHOW TV, the largest TV station in Turkey, has invited Falun Gong practitioners many times to an evening prime time show to introduce Falun Gong and demonstrate the exercises. The program received positive feedback from the audience. Through the program, the Turkish people have learned of the atrocities committed by the Chinese Communist regime.
A Falun Dafa practitioner demonstrates the meditation exercise on SHOW TV
The program, "The Mysterious Journey" is hosted by famous talk show host Ms. Necla Batum. The program hosts interviews and discusses mysterious and magical wonders and events in the world. It attracts a large audience. Since October 14, 2010, Turkish Falun Gong practitioners have been invited to the show every Thursday evening to introduce Falun Dafa. The practitioners spoke about their own experiences of mental and physical improvement since practicing the exercises and studying the teachings of Falun Gong.
The initial programs focused on the benefits of Falun Dafa and its principles. On the subsequent shows, the practitioners began to expose the on-going persecution of Falun Gong in Communist China and the horrible crime of live organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners. The program helped more Turkish people realize the evil nature of the Chinese Communist Party.
Host Ms. Batum said that the show's viewer ratings have been increasing since the month when Falun Gong practitioners were first invited and they received many calls from people after each show who wanted to learn the exercises. There were also calls from some who wanted to condemn the Chinese Communist Party; others said they liked the show and wanted to see Falun Gong practitioners on every episode.
The Truth-Compassion-Forbearance International Art Exhibition in Istanbul
From January 1 to 7, 2011, the Truth-Compassion-Forbearance International Art Exhibition was held in Istanbul, Turkey's business capital. The exhibition was held inside the Kadikoy District government building and won the praise of government officials and local people from all walks of life.
District Mayor of Kadikoy Mr. Selami Ozturk takes a photo with practitioners at the exhibition
Visitors were very move by the artwork
On the afternoon of January 5th, district Mayor Mr. Selami Ozturk came to the exhibition hall. After touring the exhibit, he wanted to take a photo with the practitioners to show his support. Practitioners expressed sincere appreciation for the support and help from the local government that made the exhibition inside the district hall possible. As he was leaving, Mr. Ozturk was given some materials providing more information about Falun Gong and a beautiful hand-made paper lotus flower.
During the week-long exhibition, visitors included meeting attendees from various groups and organizations, and city residents from all walks of life. The exhibition displayed the beauty of Falun Dafa and the great compassion and forbearance of Falun Dafa practitioners in face of persecution. The paintings touched the hearts of visitors of all ages and won high praise from many. At the same time, almost all visitors condemned the Chinese Communist Party for its suppression of righteous belief and persecution of honest and kind Chinese Falun Dafa practitioners.
Many visitors left messages in the guest book, some praising Falun Dafa, others supporting practitioners' endeavors to end the persecution, and even more condemning the Chinese Communist Party's cruel persecution of Falun Gong practitioners and urging them to stop the suppression.
The exhibition will continue in other areas of Istanbul in 2011.
Well-known Turkish Magazine Introduces Falun Gong
Well-known Turkish magazine, Yeni Aktuel (New Modern Times), introducing Falun Gong and exposing the persecution in China
Yeni Aktuel (New Modern Times) is one of the oldest and most popular magazines in Turkey. An article introducing Falun Gong and exposing the persecution in China in great detail was published in the April 2011 issue. The author of the article interviewed a number of local Falun Gong practitioners, and published a four page report, with a detailed description of Falun Gong and the CCP's brutal persecution of Falun Gong.
The article noted: “Falun Gong is an ancient Chinese cultivation practice based on the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.” It reported the popularity of Falun Gong in China prior to the persecution as well as the facts of the suppression by the CCP.
The article highlighted the fact that many Falun Gong practitioners in China were and are being arrested and sent to forced labor camps or mental hospitals. Others have been sent to brainwashing centers and sentenced to prison and badly tortured. The CCP has even harvested organs from living practitioners for profit. David Kilgour and David Matas, a Canadian politician and Canadian human rights lawyer, respectively, collected evidence attesting to the organ harvesting.
The article mentioned that May 13 is World Falun Dafa Day, and that Falun Dafa is being embraced in more and more countries around the world. The article said that practitioners in Turkey have been trying to call upon the government and public to pay more attention to the persecution in China. They peacefully clarify the truth of Falun Gong as they cultivate themselves.
Related report:
http://clearwisdom.net/html/articles/2009/8/22/110244.html
http://clearwisdom.net/html/articles/2010/11/20/121525.html