By practitioners from Europe

(Clearwisdom.net) While European Parliament Members were in session in Strasbourg, Falun Gong practitioners conducted a peaceful appeal and a press conference outside the Parliament building, calling on the European Parliament to pay attention to the unjust detention of Falun Dafa practitioners during Hu Jintao's recent state visit to France.

Press conference in front of the European Parliament	Media interview.	Explaining the facts to a police officer
Practitioners practicing the Falun Gong exercises	Member of European Parliament (MEP) Ms. Nelly Maes	Member of European Parliament (MEP) Mr. Gianfranco Dell'alba

The European Parliament is headquartered in Strasbourg. Recently, members of the European Parliament assembled to discuss and prepare topics for the 2004 United Nations Human Rights Commission, including matters concerning the Jiang regime's persecution of Falun Gong. When practitioners from France, Belgium, Germany, England, Denmark and other European countries heard about this, they traveled to the parliament building to hold a peaceful appeal. They unfurled banners reading, "Uphold France's Spirit of Liberty". They called on the MEPs to pay attention to the serious indicators that the persecution of Falun Gong is spreading to France. Member of European Parliament (MEP) Ms. Nelly Maes and Mr. Gianfranco Dell'alba attended the press conference and expressed their support.

MEP Ms. Nelly Maes from Belgium expressed her sympathy over the incident that occurred two weeks ago in which French police unreasonably detained Falun Gong practitioners. She said that it was obviously a violation of human rights, and that she had never seen such peaceful people as Falun Gong practitioners. She has asked Chinese authorities many questions regarding the Falun Gong issue, but the officials became very upset when they heard the words "Falun Gong". Ms. Maes said that this was very suspicious. She said that in her view, Falun Gong practitioners were not criminals and should have not be treated poorly in China or in France.

MEP Mr. Gianfranco Dell'alba from Italy said he felt that the reason the French police arrested Falun Gong practitioners was because they were under the pressure from China. He expressed that he would like to try his best to support democracy. He said that the Chinese government and the Chinese Embassies in European countries have continuously tried hard to prevent people from raising concerns about human rights in China. He said that he would try his best to emphasize this issue to the Chinese delegations who visit Europe. Mr. Dell'alba also said that in March a delegation from Europe would visit Beijing and he would utilize the opportunity to raise this issue.

Outside the parliament building, the practitioners' appeal and exercise demonstration was peaceful and serene. Local media reporters were present and MEPs from different countries stopped to get more information. Lots of practitioners met MPs from their own countries who said they would pay close attention to the recent incidents in France.

Source: http://clearharmony.net/articles/200402/17846.html

Posting date: 2/18/2004
Original article date: 2/17/2004
Category: Falun Dafa Worldwide
Chinese version available at http://minghui.org/mh/articles/2004/2/13/67316.html

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