Turkey: Activities to Raise Awareness of the Persecution

On the afternoon of July 18, 2009, Turkish practitioners held a series of activities at Aykut Barka Park in Istanbul to expose the Chinese Communist Party's atrocities against Falun Gong practitioners and to commemorate fellow practitioners who died during the persecution.

In the centre of this famous park, the practitioners displayed three giant banners which read, "Falun Dafa is Good", "The Chinese Communist Party will Disintegrate" and "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance". The practitioners then demonstrated the five sets of Falun Gong exercises.

Falun Gong exercise demonstration

Candlelight vigil held to commemorate practitioners who died during the past ten years of persecution

Two passersby read about the persecution

Like many others, this young girl learned the Falun Gong exercises at the park

The peaceful group practice site attracted many tourists who came in succession to watch the exercise demonstration and read the Falun Gong information display and leaflets. After learning about the ongoing organ harvesting atrocities, many people condemned the communist party.

At dusk, the practitioners formed the two Chinese Characters representing "Fa Rectification" using candles. While displaying portraits of some practitioners who died during the persecution, the practitioners sat on the grass to solemnly commemorate fellow practitioners who have lost their lives during the Chinese Communist Party's brutal persecution.