(Minghui.org) Many passersby stopped to learn about the human rights abuses and signed a petition at Falun Dafa practitioners’ events in Helsinki, Finland, on July 11, 2026, to raise awareness of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution and state-sanctioned forced organ harvesting.
Practitioners in Helsinki introduced Falun Gong and raised awareness of the persecution in China. (Minghui.org)
People learned about the state-sanctioned forced organ harvesting and signed the petition. (Minghui.org)
Practitioners gathered in Kamppi Square for a rally and other events, including an exercise demonstration, music, and a march past historic landmarks. They also distributed flyers and set up a booth with portraits of practitioners who were persecuted to death by the CCP.
Taiwan Ambassador to Finland Impressed by Peaceful Protest
A Taiwan-themed music festival—Formosa:Finland:Fest—was also being held on the square that day, offering an immersive experience of Taiwanese culture. Freddy Lim, Taiwan’s Ambassador to Finland, expressed his support for Falun Dafa.
Freddy Lim (left), the Taiwan Ambassador to Finland, at the practitioners’ event (Minghui.org)
“I often pass by the Falun Gong booth,” he said. “For over 20 years, Falun Gong practitioners have participated in human rights activities like these, and I appreciate them. This is the 27th year of protesting the persecution, and they are still peacefully sharing the truth, which is admirable. I hope that, together, we can ensure that justice will be realized one day.”
Calling For an End to Forced Organ Harvesting
Speaking at the rally, Sinikka Suotakanen, president of the Finnish Falun Dafa Association, said, “Since 1999, the CCP has continued to persecute Falun Gong practitioners. They are being illegally arrested, tortured in detention, tried unfairly, and even subjected to the horrific crime of live forced organ harvesting. There are practitioners here today who have personally experienced the persecution in China.”
Sinikka Suotakanen spoke at the rally. (Minghui.org)
“We commemorate the practitioners who have died during the persecution and call for an end to these crimes against humanity.”
As a Young Girl, Eyewitness Saw Relatives Taken Away
At the rally, a family of four practitioners told their story of living through the persecution in China.
Ms. Jiang recounted that, when she was only six, “the police broke into my home, and ransacked everything, leaving it in complete disarray. They beat up my family members and took them away. Things like this happened several times. I was very young and just kept crying. At school, I could not focus. I could only think about and wonder when my family members would come home. I lived in terror and anxiety.”
She said that her maternal grandfather was imprisoned for four years and later passed away. Her maternal grandmother passed away from grief, and her father was arrested many times.
Musical Performance at the Rally
Singers Markku Turunen and Anna Kokkonen and a Chinese practitioner performed a piece featuring guitar with vocals and an instrument called the hulusi.
Folk singer, songwriter, and music producer Anna Kokkonen at the rally (Minghui.org)
Anna sang her song Kultainen maa (Golden Land), which symbolizes the spiritual world and encourages practitioners to uphold their steadfast belief in Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance while facing persecution.
Singer Markku Turunen singing at the rally (Minghui.org)
Markku, who reached the national top eight in The Voice of Finland 2024, was invited to sing these lyrics that had been especially composed for practitioners:
“The most brutal persecution is unfolding; the propaganda machine covers up the truth—torture, extortion, and even the killing of fellow citizens. People are hung by chains from the ceiling for days, deprived of food and sleep, and have bamboo splinters driven under their fingernails—simply because we practice three simple words: Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.”
March Through the Center of Helsinki
After the rally, practitioners marched past landmarks such as Mannerheimintie, Aleksanterinkatu, Helsinki Cathedral, and City Hall before arriving at Parliament House.
Practitioners march in Helsinki. (Minghui.org)
People learn about the persecution. (Minghui.org)
The march ended at Parliament House. (Minghui.org)
The events drew the attention of residents and tourists, many of whom paused to read the displays and signed the petition calling for an end to the persecution.
Martino and his friend, tourists from Italy, watched the march and learned about the persecution afterwards. They were appalled to hear about the forced organ harvesting and signed the petition without hesitation.
Wishes More People Knew About the CCP’s Repression
Inka, a teacher, said she follows international human rights topics and reads information from Amnesty International. She was shocked to hear about the CCP’s forced organ harvesting but said the people in Finland are mostly unaware of the human rights issues in communist China.
Inka is friends with Mari Manninen, a reporter who used to live in China and who pays attention to issues there. Mari told her that she and other visitors were closely monitored by the authorities while they were living in China.
Tiia, who lives nearby, said she was stunned to hear about the CCP’s persecution: “This is a horrible thing. Thank you for sharing this information so that more people know about it.”
Some people were aware of the CCP’s infiltration into other countries and its transnational repression. One man said he has been keeping an eye on the subject and wished more people knew about it so they could help stop it.
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Category: July 20 Events
