Germany: Anti-Torture Exhibition in Frankfurt (Photos)

(Clearwisdom.net) On August 13, 2005, tourists from all over the world were stunned by the anti-torture exhibition on Frankfurt's Roman Square on International Youth Day, which exposed the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP's) persecution of Falun Gong practitioners.

In the center of the anti-torture exhibition were re-enactments of torture scenes, with practitioners wearing make-up to resemble bruises and bloodstains while tied up to a Tiger Bench, chained to cages, and with bamboo sticks pushed under their fingernails. A "Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance" Art Exhibition was set up on the left, while practitioners demonstrated the Falun Gong exercises on the right. Further on was a table with informational leaflets and a petition that people could sign in support of Falun Gong. As a backdrop, a line of large banners proclaimed in both Chinese and German, "Please help stop the persecution of Falun Gong," "The CCP Blatantly Commits Torture and Murder" and, "This Is Happening in China Right Now."

Since the beginning of the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong, which cultivates mind and body following the principles of "Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance," 2,781 Falun Gong practitioners have been verified via relatives or eyewitness accounts or photos, etc, as having been persecuted to death. Most lost their lives after enduring prolonged inhumane torture, including continuous beating, electric shocks, sleep deprivation, force-feeding, and injection of nerve damaging drugs, in labor camps, jails and brainwashing classes all over the country. The United Nations' 2004 Report on Human Rights on Persecution of Falun Gong pointed out that the brutality and cruelty of the torture "defies description."

Currently living in Germany are many Falun Gong practitioners from Beijing, Shanghai, Heilongjiang, Liaoning, and Yunnan who experienced persecution first-hand in labor camps, jails and detention centers. Some were brutally beaten, some were forced to perform intensive labor, some were locked up in iron cages and deprived of food, drink or toilet facilities, some were stripped naked and electrically shocked, and some female practitioners were even raped.

Ms. Gao Rongrong's face was severely burned from continuous electric shock torture for 7 hours

Mr. Shi Zhimin, 70-year-old, is as thin as a rail after 7 months of persecution

At Longshan Labor Camp in Shenyang, a practitioner from Shenyang, Ms. Gao Rongrong, who was once rescued but then arrested again, was shocked with high-voltage electric batons on her face for six to seven hours. As a result, her face was covered with blisters, the skin completely burned and her face disfigured. A seventy-year-old practitioner from Hebei, Mr. Shi Zhimin, was arrested at the end of 2004. Seven months later he was tortured until his body became a bag of bones, and he was just hanging on to his last breath.

After learning these facts, Falun Gong practitioner Ms. Gao (not related to Ms. Gao Rongrong) felt she would speak up for justice. Since she started practicing Falun Gong, everything changed for the better. She even got rid of her allergy to pollen, which no doctor could cure. In her opinion, if people are not free to believe in what they want to believe in, there is no point in life. If people can be persecuted for believing in "Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance," there is no morality in human society. The day before the anti-torture exhibition, she drove from the south with a homemade banner and Tiger Bench to use in the anti-torture exhibition.

Ms. Gao came from Taiwan, where more than four hundred thousand people practice Falun Gong. Falun Gong practitioners are spread throughout seventy-eight countries of the world. Be it large cities or small towns, there are Falun Gong practitioners all over Germany, most of whom are westerners. They are often seen on weekends in the city at information days and at anti-torture exhibitions.

Shock mixed with anger and sympathy appeared on the face of onlookers. The Art Exhibition with the theme of torture was often surrounded with several rows of people. A continuous flow of tourists signed their names in front of the informational material stand. A number of children bent close to the cage and Tiger Bench. Many took photos and recorded videos. Thousands of people took leaflets, newspapers, bookmarks and CDs. Countless also talked with practitioners.

Among messages in the comments book were, "I understand very well your activities. Angels are everywhere. Thank you! - Thomen;"

"It is so good to hold protest activities here. Our democracy allows everything. Wish you success! God bless! - Gappelle;"

"I revere your founding principles. The worthless brutality of those who persecute you will only serve to debase themselves. - Andrea."

http://clearharmony.net/articles/200508/28484.html

Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2005/8/19/108711.html

 Yearly Archive   Printer Version