(Minghui.org) Practitioners introduced Falun Dafa to the people who visited the Helsinki Book Fair from October 26 to 29, 2023. Falun Dafa is a spiritual practice that improves one’s mental and physical fitness. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) began persecuting Falun Dafa in July 1999 because the practice was so popular. The book fair was held at the Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre, which coincided with the Wine and Food Fair. The two fairs attracted around 88,000 visitors to the venue.
The annual Helsinki Book Fair drew many visitors from October 26 to 29, 2023.
Practitioners demonstrated the exercises at the Helsinki Book Fair.
Over 900 forums and author interviews took place during the event. Over a thousand writers, researchers, artists and politicians were present. Practitioners displayed Falun Dafa’s founder Mr. Li Hongzhi’s books, including Zhuan Falun and Falun Gong. They also demonstrated the five sets of the Falun Dafa exercises, and told people about the ongoing persecution in China, which includes imprisoning and torturing practitioners in China.
Coel Thomas, a Finnish politician, signed the practitioners’ petition demanding the CCP end the persecution. He told them that he’s been paying attention to the persecution of Falun Dafa in China, and that he was aware of the systemic organ harvesting from living practitioners against their will. He showed practitioners a video in which the CCP harvested children’s organs and sold them. “This is so evil,” he said. He said that he realized that communism has infiltrated and damaged Finland’s society.
Vesa Soikkeli said he uses Falun Dafa as an example when he teaches his students about religious freedom
Vesa Soikkeli has taught for 30 years and said, “I often talk about ethics and human rights when I teach the 9th graders. When we talk about religious freedom, I use Falun Dafa as an example. I tell my students that in China religious freedom is very limited and controlled. There are often persecutions. I tell my students that many people cannot leave China (because of the persecution). In Finland I often see practitioners exercise and protest in parks, markets, and outside of the Chinese Embassy.”
Linda and her mother Riitta sign the petition to demand the CCP end the persecution.
Linda and her mother Riitta live in Helsinki and said they often see practitioners clarifying the truth. Ritta said that she signed a petition years ago to support practitioners’ effort to end the persecution. They learned the exercises from the practitioners at the booth. Linda said that she felt, “warm and very comfortable” while doing the exercises. She added that the exercises would benefit her mother because, “My mother needs to care for my grandmother, which is very stressful.” On the last day of the event Linda returned to the Falun Dafa booth and continued learning the exercises.
Riita and Linda learn the Falun Dafa exercises.
Ayan is also a teacher. She signed the petition and told practitioners, “You have worked on this (ending the persecution) for over 20 years. I learned the exercises before and it felt great. Thank you for all you do!”
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