Wien: Veranstaltungsreihe „Freiheit für Falun Gong“

On August 30th and 31st, 2024, the event series Freedom for Falun Gong took place in Vienna. Shocked by the report of the first known survivor of the forced organ abduction by the communist regime in China, hundreds of Falun Gong practitioners from many parts of Europe took this as an occasion to point out the ongoing persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China and their gruesome consequences. On August 30th, at 3 p.m., an autocorso through Vienna opened the events, followed by a lecture, a musical performance by the European Tianguo Marching Band, as well as a candlelight vigil at the Wiener Stephansplatz. On August 31st, a lecture took place at the Stephansplatz, as well as a parade through the city of Vienna. The two ladies, members of the Human Rights Committee of the Austrian National Council, Mrs. Mag. Faiqa Al-Nagashi of the Greens and Mrs. Dr. Gudrun Kugler of the ÖVP, have been supporting Falun Gong practitioners for years and clearly rejecting the persecution. Mrs. Kugler describes the conflict, which makes it impossible for governments and politicians, due to economic restrictions, to address such human rights violations directly. We have restrictions with China, which leads many people to not speak strongly enough against the human rights violations that are evident. In the area of persecution of Falun Dafa, organ abduction and arbitrary arrests, we have sufficient evidence that what is happening is a large-scale and blatant human rights violation. Nevertheless, it sometimes seems that the answer that is given is weak. Maybe this has to do with restrictions that we actually have to get rid of. First we have to intervene for freedom and human rights. Then we do business. On the contrary, it leads to human rights being trampled on and people not being able to free themselves. I am happy, dear Faiqa, that we are working together on this basis as politicians. I think we can say that, even if it has not been easy over the years, that we have achieved a lot here. And I am happy and hope that we will do so after the election. Mrs. Al-Nagashi specifically addresses the issue of systematic organ abduction. The other point is this specific point of organ trafficking and organ theft. And here, too, Austria is of course involved in international conventions, is also bound to this. But it takes a lot more work of conscience here that people know that organs that they need to survive have not been donated, have nothing to do with voluntary work, but the background, the context to know how political prisoners are systematically abducted by people. And that is a work of education, but also a responsibility that countries in the West have, who also benefit from it or take advantage of it. The parade marched, led by the European Tiengor Marching Band, from Wiener Stephansplatz, starting through the city center of Vienna. It consisted of different sections and thematized the horror of the persecution of Falun Dafa in China, like the systematic organ theft, but also showed the beauty of meditation practice as well as elements of Chinese culture, like the dragon dance, dancing heavenly fairies, a drum group and also the Falun Dafa ship. Falun Dafa, also called Falun Gong, is a traditional Chinese form of meditation. It includes five physical exercises, which together with the deep teaching of truthfulness, compassion and insight contribute to physical health and mental satisfaction. Because of these effective effects, Falun Dafa quickly gained great popularity in China. In just seven years, the number of practitioners grew to about 100 million. This number seemed too large to the then head of state, Jiang Zemin, so Falun Gong was banned in 1999. A wave of propaganda of lies and slander began. Many innocent people were arrested, tortured, killed and their organs robbed. Since the beginning of the persecution of Falun Gong in China, 5,099 verified cases of death victims have been accused. According to human rights organizations, the dark number is much higher. NTD News, Vienna, Austria.