(Minghui.org) “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance sounds great, but the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) does not allow anyone to practice Falun Gong and even removes organs from living Falun Gong practitioners. This is unacceptable and must be stopped,” said Wadym from Ukraine at the Falun Gong information day held in Heidelberg on September 23, 2023.

A table was set up at Kornmarkt, located at the foot of the castle. This is the only way from the old city to the castle. On one side of the booth, Falun Gong practitioners demonstrated the exercises and introduced Falun Gong to the public.

On the ground of the other side of the area, small schematic diagrams of different kinds of torture were displayed, and representative pictures showing the CCP’s persecution were neatly placed. These pictures formed a sharp contrast to the peaceful exercise scene demonstrated by the Falun Gong practitioners. This scene drew the attention of many passersby.

Heidelberg, located on the Neckar River, is a dream destination for any history buff. It attracts millions of tourists every year for sightseeing. Heidelberg Castle, a famous tourist attraction, is located in the city. According to a survey of international tourists’ evaluation of German attractions, many people consider Heidelberg Castle to be the most important in all of Germany.

People paused and asked for information about Falun Gong.
Passersby sign the petition calling for an end to the ongoing persecution.

 

Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance Is Needed

Wadym said that he has lived in Germany for the past year and four months due to the Ukrainian-Russian war. He talked with a Russian Falun Gong practitioner who told him that for 24 years, the CCP has prohibited people from believing in Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. He said: “What matters is people’s freedom, no matter where they live or what language they speak. I sympathize with them and am willing to help them.”

“I understand that [Falun Gong] is an ancient Chinese cultivation practice. Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is needed in life. There is no more important principle than this.”

Finally, Wadym gave thumbs up and waved goodbye to the practitioners, walking towards the castle.

Wadym from Ukraine said that the persecution must be stopped.

Inyna and Kateryna are also Ukrainians. Inyna told practitioners that when she was in the Ukraine, she had seen internet reports about Falun Gong practitioners being persecuted by the CCP and that the organs were harvested from living practitioners.

Inyna and Kateryna signed the petition, and said that the persecution should not happen.

 

Support from Local Residents and Tourists

Heidelberg resident Anne took a rest on a bench on one side of the square with her young son. A practitioner handed her a flier. Anne looked towards the booth not far away and said, “I just signed the petition there.”

Anne started to talk with the practitioner. She said: “This is the first time I have heard of such a thing restricting other people’s beliefs and thoughts. It is very bad.”

“People nowadays pay more attention to the economy. This topic seems to have been forgotten by people.” She thanked the Falun Gong practitioner.

Hong from Taiwan accepted a flier and read it. He smiled and told the practitioners: “I know Falun Gong. It has spread all over Taiwan and many people practice it. You [Falun Gong practitioners] can be seen everywhere.”

He continued: “It’s not surprising that they [the CCP] have the shamelessness to do the [organ harvesting from living people].”

Hong also said: “A Taiwanese businessman took photos (about the CCP’s organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners) in Hong Kong. They were stopped and arrested when he entered Shenzhen. This [news] was reported on BBC. On YouTube, there are videos of him after being released.”

Hong said that he had already signed a petition in Taiwan. But to show his support, he thought it important to sign again.

A gentleman from Stuttgart asked a practitioner what Falun Gong is. The practitioner provided some background information about the cultivation practice Falun Gong and recommended that he check out the Falun Dafa (also called Falun Gong) website, where he could find the contact information and address of the Stuttgart practice site. The practitioner also told him that he could learn the exercises every Sunday in the Heidelberg Castle Garden.

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