Spain: People in Toledo, the Former Spanish Capital, Support Falun Gong

The ancient Spanish capital Toledo is a picturesque city where crowds of tourists from all over the world are drawn towards its long history, ancient architecture, and rustic lifestyle. During daytime it seems to be packed with people.

During the UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture events, Spanish Falun Gong practitioners visited this ancient city for the sixth time. Before they had been here to distribute leaflets, promote Falun Gong and let people know about the six years of human rights abuses against people who practise in China. However, this was the first time that the anti-torture exhibition, featuring simulations of some of the evil methods that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) uses in attempts to force Falun Gong practitioners to renounce their beliefs, had been seen in Toledo.

As soon as the anti-torture show started, it attracted a large crowd of tourists and residents alike. Everybody expressed shock and indignation after hearing about the brutal persecution against Falun Gong practitioners in China. People signed the petition one after another in support of an end to the persecution, calling for the CCP to immediately stop the human rights abuses against Falun Gong practitioners.

Shortly after the anti-torture exhibition started, an elderly gentleman rushed furiously to the practitioner acting as a policeman, sternly commanding: “Untie her immediately!” The “policeman” hastened to explain, “It’s an act. I am not hitting her for real.” The gentleman insisted, “Not acceptable. Quick, release the ropes!” Meanwhile he tried himself to untie the ropes around the practitioner. Other practitioners explained to the gentleman, “We are acting out the persecution against Falun Gong practitioners that is currently happening in China. More than two thousand practitioners have been persecuted to death. Hundreds and thousands more are suffering brutal torture…” As the gentleman listened, his eyes moistened. Going up to the young lady playing the practitioner being tortured, he bent down, tenderly held her shoulders and planted a kiss on her forehead.

A middle-aged couple told the practitioners they had seen the anti-torture exhibition while on holiday in the U.S. At the time they did not fully understand what it was about exactly due to language barriers and therefore did not sign. Seeing the same anti-torture exhibition in their own country and understanding the persecution of Falun Gong in China, they would not allow such trampling on human rights to continue. Both the man and the wife put their names on the petition form, which called for the immediate end to the persecution.

A gentleman, when he first passed the anti-torture exhibition, at one glance of the flyer blurted out, “Oh, Falun Gong? A cult.” Before practitioners could say a word, he hurried away without looking back. Shortly after, however, he was seen again reading illustrations on the anti-torture photo exhibits in deep concentration. Later, stopping in front of the live anti-torture exhibition, he watched for a long time with a solemn look on his face. Seeing his change, the practitioner knew he had understood the truth. When he appeared for the third time, he made straight for the practitioners, “I come to tell you specially that I have signed the petition.”

Having watched the anti-torture exhibition, a doctor offered his business card to a practitioner: “I hope I can do something to help you. Please call me at any time if you need me.”

Toledo TV station, newspapers and magazines, among other media, interviewed Falun Gong practitioners. The TV station further invited Falun Gong practitioners to make an appointment so they can do a special report on Falun Gong.