August 11, 2004 Wednesday

On August 11, The Associated Press reported on Falun Gong practitioners' parade through central Athens to call for attention from international society regarding the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China. One Falun Gong practitioner pointed out that although Beijing has been approved to hold the 2008 Olympics, its current human rights situation opposes the values which the Olympics are founded upon.

The report stated that about 100 Falun Gong followers marched peacefully Wednesday through central Athens.Many were dressed in colorful clothing and accompanied by a bright yellow band playing traditional Chinese music. Organizers of the march compared the upcoming 2008 Olympics in China with the 1936 Olympics in Berlin during the Nazi occupation.

The report quoted a Falun Gong practitioner from Belgium, Mattias Slaats who said, "I think China has a great history, which has the values of the Olympic Games and the people of China deserve them. But the current human rights situation there opposes the values of the Olympic spirit,"

According to the report, organizers of the march, which dispersed peacefully, claimed the Chinese embassy in Athens had demanded that the peaceful protest be banned.