(Minghui.org) A rally was held in Düsseldorf, the capital city of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), on July 19, 2025, to mark 26 years of the persecution of Falun Gong by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Frank Börner, Member of NRW State Parliament, attended the event.

Düsseldorf is one of the largest commercial cities in West Germany, and the rally was held in the busiest part of the city center. Practitioners read letters of support from many Federal and State Members of Parliament in NRW. Mr. Andreas Weber, representing Doctors Against Forced Organ Harvesting (DAFOH), also attended the event. Practitioners did the exercises and told people about the CCP’s various crimes against humanity during the past 26 years of persecution. People signed the petition to call for an end to the human rights abuses after learning the facts.

Practitioners demonstrated the exercises and handed out materials.

People sign the petition to call for an end to the brutalities.

At the rally, a Western and a Chinese practitioner jointly read a statement listing the names of 30 practitioners who recently died from the persecution in China as well as a brief narration of the torture they went through. Hand-drawn images of the torture instruments used and photos of several practitioners who died from the torture were displayed.

Member of State Parliament Reveals the Düsseldorf Chinese Consulate’s Attempt to Slander Falun Gong

Frank Börner, a member of the State Parliament in NRW, spoke at the rally.

Frank Börner is a member of the State Parliament in NRW and has attended many rallies held by Falun Gong practitioners over the years. He came to the rally that day once again and said in his speech: “These people [Falun Gong practitioners] are persecuted by the CCP for simply doing meditation for their health. Today, we remember those who were tortured to death and call attention to all of them who are still detained in labor camps. These people who practice meditation, how can they be a threat to others and the government? The suppression by the CCP is baseless.”

He made an appeal: “Stop persecuting [Falun Gong practitioners], release them and make sure they return to international society.”

He also showed a letter sent to him by the Chinese Consulate in Düsseldorf, which he received after he spoke at a Falun Gong rally last year. The letter vilified and slandered Falun Gong, repeating the lies fabricated in China. Mr. Börner thought this was foolish and said, “This letter appears to copy the words from the CCP’s constitution and has no real content.”

Afterward, a practitioner from China described the torture he was subjected to while he was detained in a labor camp, including forced labor, brainwashing, and not being allowed to sleep. He was made to go through physical examinations three times in two months, including thorough X-ray tests. Mr Börner said, “I am extremely worried after learning of his experience. It even made my hair stand on end.”

He said, “I will come to the rally next year.”

DAFOH Representative: Don’t Become the CCP’s Tool for Persecuting Falun Gong

DAFOH representative Andreas Weber called on his peers not to become the CCP’s accomplices unknowingly.

Mr. Andreas Weber attended the rally and explained it has been two decades since the first witness came out to publicly expose the CCP’s crimes of organ harvesting. While Western medical doctors have always been suspicious of the source of organs used in transplants in hospitals in China, many Western countries don’t stop their citizens from going to China for organ transplants. This makes Mr. Weber, who is a doctor, deeply concerned.

He said in his speech, “When we as doctors and others in the medical field transfer patients to China for organ transplants or partner with Chinese companies in the field, we unwittingly become accomplices to this crime. Due to the lure of financial gains, we unconsciously participate in organ harvesting and persecuting Falun Gong. We become a tool of the CCP in this suppression of Falun Gong, even deliberately ignoring this crime. We must absolutely stop this from happening.”

Eva-Marie Schiffe, a Falun Gong practitioner, spoke of the brutal means adopted by the CCP in persecuting practitioners for the past 26 years.

In her speech, Eva-Marie Schiffe, a Falun Gong practitioner, told people how the CCP continuously created and spread hatred in the past 26 years, severing Falun Gong practitioners’ source of income and the regime’s genocidal crimes such as outrageous torture and inhuman organ harvesting.

She said, “The Chinese People’s Congress and the judiciary department cover the CCP’s crime in the guise of legality and rule of law to deceive people. The rule of law is a tool and protective umbrella for the CCP’s persecution. Lies spread throughout the world through diplomatic channels. Law, morality, and human nature are completely subverted, destroying the country fundamentally.”

Practitioners also read letters received from many Members of Parliament in NRW at the rally. Their accolades for Falun Gong resonated with people. Anne König, a German Federal Member of Parliament, wrote in her letter:

“Falun Gong practitioners remain steadfast in the face of pressure; they do not resort to violence or harbor hatred. Such inner independence transcends all power of ideology.”

Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance, a Source of Inner Strength

Heike Schulz, who works in mental health treatments, agrees with Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.

Ms. Heike Schulz listened to the speeches at the rally and agreed that Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance is a source of inner strength. “ Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance are extremely high goals. It is important, excellent, and full of challenges because there are many conflicts in life. Regardless of how much you can put these values into practice, everyone can use the principles to guide themselves.”

Ms. Heike Schulz works in the field of mental health treatments. In the past, she only believed in Western classical medicine and the effectiveness of medication. Through studying qigong, she experienced the healing power of one’s mind and said, “Eastern, ancient wisdom far surpasses Western medicine in this regard. Many people are no longer responsible for their own health. They stopped being responsible for their thoughts; they only know they should take medicine when they are ill. They know nothing about the spiritual realm.”

She felt sad about the persecution of Falun Gong in China, “A country instigates people to fight a weak group, yet this group only wants to have basic human rights. Falun Gong practitioners do not harm anyone. I think it is already terrible that a group is marginalized; worse still, it is persecuted. This is very sad.”

She could not believe organ harvesting was true when she first read the flyer. She thought the organs were taken after a person dies, “Even then, I thought this is already overboard. I only realized today, the CCP is not just persecuting people, it is killing people through forced organ removal. It also does ads claiming how great its surgery is. How shameful and ridiculous.”

Chinese Citizens Quit the CCP

Many passersby seemed shocked when they learned of the brutal suppression suffered by a group of people who followed the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance for the past 26 years. They signed the petition to call for an end to the human rights abuses.

One man took information when he passed by the booth. He said he would read it. When he walked past for the third time, a practitioner showed him the petition, and he signed without hesitation. He then turned around and hugged the practitioner.

A woman from China stood across the street observing practitioners do the exercises. She said her impression of Falun Gong was shaped by the self-immolation incident many years ago. A practitioner explained it was staged by the CCP, and she understood the regime’s tactics to fool people. She asked: “Then why is the CCP persecuting Falun Gong?” The practitioner explained that Falun Gong follows Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, and these go against the CCP’s ideology – lies, evil, violence. She happily agreed to renounce her membership in the CCP and thanked the practitioner for telling her the truth.

Two young men from China passed by the booth. One of them read out loud the message on a banner: “Falun Gong Is Wonderful.” After chatting with a practitioner, they understood the purpose of quitting the CCP and readily agreed to renounce their memberships.