(Minghui.org) Since May 13, 1992 when Falun Dafa was first taught in Northeast China, it has rapidly spread all over the world because of its unique effects of healing and fitness and its spiritually uplifting power. May 13 is Master's birthday. In 2000, practitioners overseas proposed making May 13 “World Falun Dafa Day.” Every year since then, practitioners and people in general have celebrated Falun Dafa Day and Master's birthday on May 13.

After 13 years of the communist party's brutal persecution, Falun Dafa has spread to more than 100 countries. In China, many people have learned the truth and dared to stand up for practitioners. Below are some real stories that occurred in China.

Lawyer: I Was Amazed by Falun Dafa Practitioners' “Selflessness and Always Thinking About Others”

In recent years, more and more righteous lawyers have bravely stood up to defend practitioners. Based on the facts and law, they have pointed out that belief in Falun Dafa is legal and spreading Falun Dafa is legal.

Lawyer A: I was a procurator. But at that time I didn't know what Falun Dafa was, and I didn't even care. Under the communist party system, it is very hard to do things with a conscience.

One day, I received an email with an attachment that was software for breaking through the firewall. So I had the opportunity to read a lot of information, which cannot be seen in media that is controlled by the government. Later I resigned my position as procurator and became a lawyer. Then I handled several practitioners' cases. I gradually learned what Falun Dafa is. And I learned more by using the software to break through the firewall. I understand the truth about Falun Dafa.

Lawyer B: During the process of defending Falun Dafa practitioners, I discovered that when a practitioner was arrested by the police, the Political and Legislative Affairs Committee and the 610 Office had already decided how many years the practitioner should be detained. After they collected all the paperwork from the police department, the procuratorate, and the court, they sent the practitioner directly to imprisonment. Because in recent years, more and more lawyers have gotten involved and defended practitioners, the authorities have had to do some surface work to make their decisions appear legitimate.

I once defended a practitioner, and it had a huge effect on the local people. The personnel of the Political and Legislative Affairs Committee and the 610 Office were so angry; they tried to pressure me by asking the court policemen to detain me. The wife of the practitioner said, “I hired this lawyer, I must guarantee his safety. You have no right to detain him.” The court called more policemen and tried to drag away the lady and separate her from me. At that moment, she dashed to my side, held my arms, and said loudly, “No matter what, I won't be apart from my lawyer; I must guarantee his safety. Don't you dare come nearer.” At last, all the policemen left. I witnessed that even Falun Dafa practitioners' family members think about others when facing danger, beyond the practitioner himself thinking this way. I found that Falun Dafa practitioners are a group of people who really are “selfless and always think about others.”

Judge Chooses Not to Participate in Persecuting Practitioners

In 2006 a practitioner from Jiamusi City was illegally arrested and was going to be sentenced. He has elderly parents, a wife, and young kids at home. The local police declared that they would also arrest his wife. Several practitioners went to see the judge to tell him what happened. The judge never spoke to practitioners nor seriously thought about the issue before he signed the sentence paper. He thought he was doing his job. Practitioners continued to tell the judge the truth about Falun Dafa. Then the judge started to realize that there's no legal justification for sentencing practitioners.

酷刑演示:大背铐

Illustration: Back cuff

In 2009, another practitioner was going to be sentenced to imprisonment. Practitioners went to see the judge again and told him about the practitioner's experience when he was detained at a forced labor camp, how the guards tortured him using their practice of the “Back Cuff.” (In this torture method the practitioner’s hands are tied behind his back, with one hand over the shoulder and the other hand against the lower back. The police then apply a great deal of force to pull the two hands toward one another and then handcuff the two hands together on an iron bed.) During the torture, policemen and prisoners continued twisting and pushing the arms to make it more painful.

After learning all the persecution facts, the judge gradually changed his thinking about Falun Dafa. Finally, one day he told practitioners, “Please do not come again, I understand. I'll try my best to reduce the detention term to as short as possible.” The practitioner sincerely told him, “We come for you, not for our fellow practitioners. Once you sign the sentence paper, you participate in the persecution. We don't want to see you carry the sins for the communist party.” The judge was moved to tears. Later when he received another practitioner's case, he said, “I don't want to accept this case, not in my court.”

Military Officer Stands Up to Pressure to Divorce His Wife, a Falun Gong Practitioner

One military officer, whose wife is a Falun Dafa practitioner, already knew the truth about Falun Dafa and was very supportive of his wife. In 2010, his superiors from the provincial level to the local level all tried to force him to divorce. It was very painful for him. A practitioner told him, “You already know Falun Dafa is good. If you divorce, it means you stand on the other side which persecutes Falun Dafa. It is really bad for you......” The officer replied, “Indeed, there is nothing wrong with my wife practicing Falun Dafa. If I have to quit this job, I can find another one, but I only have one wife and one family. I greatly cherish them.” The officer didn't divorce at all, and the so-called punishment never occurred.

Dean of Institution Protects a Practitioner from Police Harassment

Practitioner C graduated from a top university. After the persecution of Falun Dafa started, C became the important one to be monitored and persecuted. She has been arrested and sent to a detention center several times.

In order to avoid being continuously “illegally arrested”, C was forced to leave home. Under pressure, the institution C worked for decided to fire C. Then C talked with the dean, clarified the truth about Falun Dafa to him, and told him about her experience of being illegally arrested and harassed. She also told the dean how her family and friends were affected and suffered persecution too. The dean immediately said, “As long as I'm still in this position, no policeman is allowed to harass you anymore. You come back to work now.” He even called the police precinct himself, and told them, “I will be responsible for my staff and manage my staff. Please do not harass her and affect her work and life again.”

Once several policemen came to C's workplace and tried to search her computer. The chief of C's office said, “No one is allowed to search the computer without approval from our superior. In addition, if you want to search, show us the search warrant.” Since the persecution of Falun Dafa began, this was the first time that these policemen encountered this situation. They left without choice and never returned to harass C again.

Manager of a Shopping Mall: This Is Our Most Excellent and Most Trusted Employee

Practitioner D is a salesperson in a shopping mall. She was awarded “excellent salesperson” for many years continuously.

In 2006, police arrested D and sent her to forced labor for one year. During that year, D's colleague and her supervisor went to see her several times. After she was released, the manager told her, “You are our best employee, we welcome you back at any time.”

Reporter: My 90-year-old Mother Is More Healthy than I Am

Practitioner E is about 90 years old. For the past 10 years, she has been very healthy and has never gone to see a doctor. She even takes care of herself and lives independently.

Practitioner E's children have witnessed that Falun Dafa is good from seeing it in her, and they all are very supportive of their mother practicing Falun Dafa.

In the winter of 2010, one of practitioner E's daughters died of cancer. Practitioner E's other children were too busy to take care of her during this difficult time. So some local practitioners went to accompany her at night; some took care of her daily life; and some studied the Fa and did the exercises with her. They all cooperated and helped her get through that difficult time.

Practitioner E's children were touched, and they all acknowledged that Falun Dafa is good. One of the daughters said, “My mother is almost 90 years old, and I'm only in the beginning of my 60s; however, she is more healthy than I am.”

(From the Call for Submissions to Commemorate the Twentieth Anniversary of Falun Dafa’s Introduction)