(Minghui.org) On April 25, 2016, Falun Gong practitioners from Munich and Helsinki commemorated one of the largest protests in modern Chinese history that took place 17 years ago.

In addition to a rally, candlelight vigil, and group exercise, practitioners exposed the crimes committed against practitioners in China, especially the state-sanctioned forced organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners.

They called for support for the wave of criminal complaints to bring Jiang Zemin to justice for launching the persecution.

Many passersby were touched by the practitioners' efforts as they learned about Falun Gong and signed the petition. Many also said that they would tell more people about the persecution.

On April 25, 1999, 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners went to the Beijing State Appeals Office to request the release of 45 practitioners arrested in Tianjin, a city about 60 miles east of Beijing.

Although the 45 practitioners were released the same day, Jiang Zemin, the former head of the Chinese Communist Party, soon ordered a nationwide crackdown of Falun Gong three months later.

Since then, Falun Gong practitioners around the world have been holding events to commemorate the April 25 protest and raise awareness of the persecution that is still going on in China.

Practitioners in Munich commemorating the April 25 protest

Practitioners in Helsinki commemorating the April 25 protest

Rally at Chinese Consulate in Munich

“I was impressed by the number of practitioners who came.” said Mr. Chen Gang, who was among the 10,000 protesters in Beijing. “It was so peaceful. I was really moved by the power of true belief.”

Mr. Chen said he had also participated in the students' demonstration in 1989 that turned into the massacre at Tiananmen Square. “After that, I thought no one would dare to stand up and fight for truth again. When I saw that many people come in the face of unknown danger for the freedom of belief, I was really touched by it. That moment was unforgettable.”

“The persecution has lasted for 17 years. It must be stopped.” said Ms. Ulrike Ehmann, a Falun Gong practitioner who attended the rally in Munich. “When the 10,000 practitioners protested 17 years ago, they were so peaceful and calm. We are also following their path–protesting in a peaceful way. I believe everyone passing by can feel the peaceful energy around here.”

A lady who lives close by the Chinese consulate where the event took place said she often saw demonstrations by Falun Gong practitioners there. “They were always so peaceful, unlike many other groups. I think that's a very good way to attract people's attention.” she said.

Helsinki Rally Exposes the Crime of Organ Harvesting

At the rally in Helsinki, practitioners put up banners exposing the forced organ harvesting from living, non-consenting Falun Gong practitioners. After seeing the exhibition, a doctor named Katarina said, “It's unbelievable that a hospital could find a matching organ for any patient within such a short time! This is so scary!”

Holding his mother's portrait in hand, Mr. Wu Zhiping told many passersby about his family's suffering. Because they practiced Falun Gong, both his mother and aunt were persecuted to death.

He was given three years of forced labor, his wife was sentenced to ten years in prison, and his brother was sentenced to eight years.

Mr. Wu fled China in 2003 and was resettled in Finland by the United Nations in 2008. His wife, Ms. Zhu Luoxin, escaped to Finland in 2012 after ten years of imprisonment. The couple reunited after 11 years of persecution.

Both Mr. Wu and his brother, who remains in China, filed criminal complaints last year. Soon after that, his brother and sister-in-law were arrested. The police have continued to harass them after their release.

“It's unacceptable how the Communist regime has persecuted people for their spiritual belief. It should be stopped right now.” said Arik, who was touched by Mr. Wu's story.

“The 17 years of persecution is too long. I sincerely wish that it could be stopped soon,” said Tuula, who voiced her support upon learning about the persecution.

Falun Gong practitioners exposed the persecution of Falun Gong in downtown Helsinki

Related reports in Chinese:http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2016/4/27/芬兰学员纪念四二五-呼吁法办江泽民（图）-327214.html