(Minghui.org) Falun Gong practitioners held a rally at the Dr. Wilbert McIntyre Park, Edmonton, Canada on July 23, 2016 marking 17 years of persecution in China. They called for bringing former dictator Jiang Zemin to justice and stopping the persecution of Falun Gong. Ms. Lu Hongyan spoke at the event, calling for the rescue of her mother, Ms. Chen Huixia, imprisoned in China for her belief in Falun Gong.

Rally of Falun Gong practitioners in Edmonton, Canada. Ms. Liu presents 9000 signatures supporting the lawsuits against the former Chinese dictator.

The rally host, Mr. Ye, said, “July 20 is a special day in Chinese history. It is a sad day for countless practitioners following the Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, because the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) initiated the brutal persecution on July 20, 1999. The trampling of human rights has lasted 17 years and is still going on in China.”

Over 200,000 Falun Gong practitioners and their family members filed criminal complaints against Jiang since May 2015. As part of a worldwide effort to support the movement, practitioners collected about 9000 signatures supporting the lawsuits within the last few months. At the rally, Ms. Liu, a local practitioner, expressed appreciation for the community's support and called on more to join the effort.

Edmonton Practitioner Calls for Mother's Rescue

Falun Gong practitioner Ms. Lu Hongyan calls for her mother's rescue from unlawful detention in China.

Ms. Lu Hongyan spoke at the rally about her mother being persecuted for years for her belief in Falun Gong. She said, “My mother was arrested two months ago. She was put in solitary confinement for over 20 days in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province. There was no bed, but a single metal chair. She was tied to the chair and subjected to constant brainwashing. My mother is very weak and cannot walk.”

She continued, “My mom was detained once in 2003. Police often harassed her after she was released. My father could not stand the pressure and had to divorce my mom. I cannot return to China as I am a practitioner too. I have not seen her for 11 years. I worry about her safety. I'm afraid she could become a victim of the CCP's forced live organ harvesting.”

To rescue her mother, Ms. Lu and her husband started a car tour from Edmonton through Eastern Canada seeking help and support.

Background

In 1999, Jiang Zemin, as head of the Chinese Communist Party, overrode other Politburo standing committee members and launched the violent suppression of Falun Gong.

The persecution has led to the deaths of many Falun Gong practitioners in the past 16 years. More have been tortured for their belief and even killed for their organs. Jiang Zemin is directly responsible for the inception and continuation of the brutal persecution.

Under his personal direction, the Chinese Communist Party established an extralegal security organ, the “610 Office,” on June 10, 1999. The organization overrides police forces and the judicial system in carrying out Jiang's directive regarding Falun Gong: to ruin their reputations, cut off their financial resources, and destroy them physically.

Chinese law allows for citizens to be plaintiffs in criminal cases, and many practitioners are now exercising that right to file criminal complaints against the former dictator.