Germany: Member of State Parliament Speaks at Rally to Condemn the Persecution of Falun Dafa

(Minghui.org) To mark the 25th anniversary of the Falun Gong practitioners’ efforts to end the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution, practitioners from North Rhine-Westphalia and surrounding areas held a rally in central Düsseldorf on July 20, 2024. They introduced Falun Gong (Falun Dafa) and condemned the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution. A member of the North Rhine-Westphalia state Parliament (MSP) and a well-known artist addressed the rally to voice their support for practitioners. 

Practitioners held a rally in central Düsseldorf on July 20, 2024. 

Practitioners demonstrated the five exercises and told people about the CCP’s brutal persecution that has gone on for 25 years. Many passersby were drawn by the peaceful atmosphere and melodious exercise music during the event. They read the display boards and asked practitioners for more information. A man who was on the phone and hurriedly walked past the venue, walked back and asked practitioners for a leaflet, saying, “I just saw the display board about live organ harvesting. I must learn about this.” Many people who signed the petition said that after learning about the CCP’s atrocities, they wanted to help end the persecution.

During the event, Mr. Boerner, MSP, and the famous artist Cyrus Overbeck personally voiced their support. Falun Gong practitioners also read speeches from nine other politicians. In his speech, Dr. Weber, an orthopedic and trauma surgery expert, condemned the CCP’s organ harvesting from living people from a doctor’s perspective. Several Falun Gong practitioners who experienced the CCP’s persecution told people about their personal experiences. These speeches touched the people present, and more people stopped to learn about Falun Gong and signed the petition against the persecution.

People learn about Falun Gong and the CCP’s persecution. 

MSP of North Rhine-Westphalia: We Must Speak Out for the Rights of Falun Gong Practitioners

Mr. Boerner, MSP, addressed the rally. 

This is the third rally Mr. Boerner, MSP, attended to support practitioners’ efforts to end the persecution. He said, “Thank you very much for inviting me to the 25th anniversary of Falun Gong practitioners’ fight against the CCP’s persecution and for giving me the opportunity to speak here.”

Referring to Germany’s relationship with the Chinese government, Mr. Boerner said, “We once thought that international trade relations could make all of us live in more peace and security. Unfortunately, this was a mistake, and now this idea has been shattered. Crazy and evil dictators do not regard peace, freedom, and human dignity as sacred values.”

He also said that Germany should take action in terms of trade. “In international trade relations, we must pay more attention to democratic partners. It is wrong to do more and more business with dictatorships that wage war on their neighbors and on their own people.”

Regarding the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong practitioners, Mr. Boerner said, “Falun Gong is a spiritual practice based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, and does not pose a threat. However, Falun Gong practitioners are treated as criminals and their human rights are extremely violated.

“For 25 years, Falun Gong practitioners have been persecuted, detained, tortured, and killed by the CCP. Tens of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners have died from torture. They are physically exploited in labor camps. Even more terrifying is that Falun Gong practitioners detained in labor camps are like living warehouses of human parts.” 

He said the European Parliament has been investigating the tens of thousands of organ harvesting incidents each year and remarked, “More than 20 years after the systematic persecution began, the situation of Falun Gong practitioners in China remains frustrating and worrying. Despite the efforts and repeated calls from the international community to end these human rights violations, the CCP has not changed its hard line.”

In his speech, Mr. Boerner called on others to speak up, “We must continue to speak out and fight for the rights of Falun Gong practitioners. It is our moral obligation and responsibility to raise awareness of these injustices, exert political pressure on the Chinese government, and ultimately end this persecution.” “Let us work together to ensure that these voices are not suppressed and that the world does not turn a blind eye to the atrocities that are happening in secret. Freedom of belief is a basic human right for all people around the world and must be protected.”

Artist: Stand Up for the Chinese People Being Persecuted

Cyrus Overbeck, a well-known artist, addressed the rally. 

Cyrus Overbeck is a well-known artist and a good friend of Mr. Boerner MSP. He participated in the event to support Falun Gong practitioners. He said, “Today, I have to stand here. This is a sad moment because people in China are being tortured and their organs are being stolen.

“I call on us (German people) to stand up for the persecuted people in China with a free, young heart and a belief that the world will be a better place, stand up for those who are being persecuted in China and for those who are being killed. They face an unjust regime just like the defenseless German Jews from 1933 to 1945.”

Mr. Overbeck also said, “We can provide opportunities for oppressed and tortured people to come to our country, integrate into and become part of the free and democratic Federal Republic of Germany.”

Doctor: The CCP’s Organ Harvesting Is Against the Hippocratic Oath 

Andreas Weber, an orthopedic and trauma surgery specialist, addressed the rally and condemned the CCP’s organ harvesting. 

Andreas Weber is an orthopedic and trauma surgeon. He spoke at the rally, condemning the CCP’s live organ harvesting. “As a doctor with many years of experience, what is horrible to me is that people kill others for profit, greed, and hatred. This is not only a fundamental violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, but also a violation of all the oaths of medical practitioners,” said Dr. Weber. 

“The CCP uses live organ harvesting as the ultimate way to eradicate Falun Gong, and all this is done in secret. It has managed to move the murder of Falun Gong practitioners to the operating room and reward doctors who do this, giving them financial rewards and commendations. For me, this is the worst.” He hopes that righteous countries around the world can unite and stand up against these crimes of human rights violations.

Practitioner: Hope More People Learn about the Persecution

Several practitioners who attended the rally experienced the CCP’s persecution. They narrated their personal experiences, such as being beaten, brainwashed, and forced to labor. Some practitioners still have marks from the injuries they received while they were persecuted more than a decade ago.

A practitioner who participated in the rally said, “I’m very grateful to see the MSP and so many people supporting us. Here, people have freedom of belief. As Falun Gong practitioners, we can make our voices heard and get attention. We can also practice freely. This is very different from China under the rule of the CCP.”

Falun Gong practitioners hope that people can learn about the persecution, stop associating with the CCP, and have a bright future.