Practitioners in China Defy Risks to Celebrate World Falun Dafa Day, Shen Yun Court Win in South Korea

Dear Reader,

May 13 marks a momentous occasion—the anniversary of Falun Dafa’s public introduction and the birthday of its founder, Mr. Li Hongzhi. This day not only celebrates the profound teachings of Falun Dafa but also honors the enduring spirit of its practitioners, who continue to uphold their freedom of belief despite ongoing persecution by the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) regime.

While practitioners outside China commemorate World Falun Dafa Day with vibrant parades, rallies, and other public events, those inside mainland China often find quieter yet deeply heartfelt ways to celebrate, given the ongoing persecution they face. Each year, they submit calligraphy, photographs, e-cards, Flash animations, poems, essays, and more to Minghui.org—a site that documents both the persecution and personal experiences of Falun Dafa practitioners through a broad network of contributors in China and abroad.

This year, we’ve gathered a selection of greetings from practitioners across mainland China, including both longtime and new adherents. These greetings reflect a deep bond with Mr. Li and express heartfelt gratitude for his guidance, compassion, and the timeless principles of Falun Dafa.

Also in this issue:

• A 71-year-old Chongqing man dies during a third prison term for his faith.

• A South Korean court rules that a CCP-backed Shen Yun cancellation is illegal.

• Violence and threats against Falun Gong escalate in Flushing, NY.

• People from different countries and cultures share how practicing Falun Gong has impacted their lives.

Finally, we’re pleased to share a video featuring our advocacy officer, Mark Yang, standing alongside Rep. Chris Smith, Piero Tozzi, and other human rights leaders to advocate for the passage of H.R. 1503 — the Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act.

FEATURE STORY

Chinese practitioners send e-cards to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day and wish Mr. Li Hongzhi a happy birthday. (Minghui.org/Edited by Faluninfo)

What’s new? 

While Falun Dafa practitioners around the world honor May 13—World Falun Dafa Day—with parades, cultural performances, and rallies, adherents in mainland China must celebrate more discreetly due to the ongoing persecution. One creative and courageous way they do so is by sending messages to Minghui.org, a website that documents adherents’ experiences and the human rights abuses practitioners face in China.

This year’s greetings stand out for their remarkable diversity: submissions came from new practitioners in more than a dozen provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities, along with veteran practitioners from over 60 different professions. Messages arrived in the form of handwritten calligraphy, digital e-cards, heartfelt poems, and animations—all expressions of deep gratitude to the practice’s founder, Mr. Li Hongzhi, and in celebration of the spiritual practice’s introduction to the public 33 years ago.

Why does it matter? 

The variety and volume of greetings serve as a powerful testament to the enduring strength of Falun Dafa in China, despite 26 years of systematic repression. These messages are not just expressions of gratitude—they reflect lives that have been transformed. Practitioners speak of relief from chronic illnesses, restored family harmony, and newfound clarity and peace from living by the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. That so many people—across generations and professions—risk their personal safety to send these messages speaks to how deeply Falun Dafa has taken root in Chinese society.

What else do you need to know?

Thousands of greetings were submitted this year, many on behalf of entire families, groups of practitioners, or local communities. These collective messages reflect Falun Dafa’s wide reach—from factory workers and farmers to doctors, educators, and engineers. While the celebrations may be quiet, the spirit behind them speaks volumes.

PERSECUTION IN CHINA

In early May, Minghui.org, Weiquanwang, and Bitter Winter—a well-respected Italian publication dedicated to exposing violations of religious freedom in China and elsewhere—reported the tragic death of Mr. Tang Fenghua. A 71-year-old resident of Chongqing, Mr. Tang was imprisoned for his belief in Falun Gong and reportedly was subjected to brutal torture while incarcerated in Yongchuan Prison. He fell critically ill and was transferred to Chongqing Second Hospital, where he passed away on April 17.

A former furniture store owner, Mr. Tang had long been a target of the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong, a spiritual practice banned in China since 1999. He had already served two prison terms totaling five years. During a previous detention in 2021, he suffered severe health issues, including vomiting blood, and was diagnosed with tuberculosis before being released from Chongqing Second Municipal Hospital on October 9, 2021.

Due to the regime’s strict censorship and ongoing cover-up of the persecution, the exact timing of Mr. Tang’s final arrest remains unclear. Reports suggest he was detained late in 2021 or early 2022, sentenced to a prison term of four to four and a half years, and was expected to be released some time in 2025. His death underscores the Chinese regime’s relentless suppression of Falun Gong practitioners, as well as the harrowing and life-threatening conditions they face in prison.

NEWS

A South Korean court has ruled that Kangwon National University’s cancellation of Shen Yun Performing Arts’ scheduled performances—prompted by pressure from the CCP—was illegal. In its April 30, decision, the Chuncheon District Court granted an injunction filed by the Falun Dafa Association of Korea, which had organized the event, ordering the university to reinstate permission for the shows to proceed as planned on May 6–7 at the Baeckryung Art Center.

The court found the university’s justification—that Chinese students might protest or cause clashes—was at best speculative and unsupported by evidence, especially given Shen Yun’s history of peaceful performances at the same venue in 2017 and in other years across South Korea.

The court further noted that Shen Yun’s organizers had already received official approval, completed the necessary preparations including advertising, and sold approximately 62 percent of the tickets. Canceling the shows just 20 days before the performance would cause serious reputation and financial harm.

Following the ruling, Shen Yun successfully performed in Daegu, Chuncheon, and Gwacheon, South Korea, from May 1 to 10.

TRANSNATIONAL REPRESSION

A Falun Gong practitioner stands in apparent shock after an assailant fled the scene, leaving the informational booth visibly dislodged and disordered. (Photo: The Global Tuidang Center)

A Falun Gong information booth in Flushing, Queens, was violently attacked on April 29, amid a surge in threats targeting practitioners. A Chinese man kicked and damaged the booth while shouting threats and faking injury. This follows a series of graphic online threats against Falun Gong practitioners and supporters, believed to be part of a broader CCP campaign of transnational repression.

On April 27, the Global Tuidang Center, the organizer of Falun Gong information booth in Flushing, received a violent warning. It proclaimed:

“All Falun Gong members and their supporters in the United States and Taiwan, including dignitaries, celebrities and entertainers who support Falun Gong, as well as their family members, will be in danger in the near future! Shot! Kidnapped! Car accidents! Fire at their homes! Vehicles will explode! I swear to Jesus, this is not a joke!!!”

The violent threat is one of over 100 sent to Falun Gong practitioners, Shen Yun, and their supporters since March 2024, though no actual bombings or acts of deadly violence have occurred. Still, the incidents appear to be a form of coordinated intimidation aimed at silencing dissent and Falun Gong advocacy abroad.

You may have heard that over 100 million people around the world practice Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa—a spiritual discipline rooted in traditional Chinese culture. From Boston to Berlin, Moscow to Mumbai, and Jerusalem to Jakarta, practitioners can be found meditating in parks, community centers, and on university campuses. But have you ever wanted to hear firsthand accounts from these practitioners?

First published by the Falun Dafa Information Center, last year the article ”Who Practices Falun Gong?” offers a window into the lives of dozens of practitioners from all walks of life—regardless of nationality, ethnicity, or background. Among them are Ms. Sandra Genin, a makeup artist and mother of two living in France, and Mr. Lior Bromberg, a software engineer residing in Israel with his wife and daughter. The article also shares compelling stories of Chinese practitioners and their families.

On May 8, an advocacy officer for the Falun Dafa Information Center, Mark Yang highlighted the ongoing, state-sanctioned practice of forced organ harvesting in China, first exposed in 2006. He emphasized that Falun Gong practitioners and other prisoners of conscience, including Uyghur Muslims and house Christians, have been systematically killed for their organs. Though initially difficult for many to believe due to the horrific nature of the abuse, extensive investigations by human rights lawyers, medical experts, and international bodies have since provided overwhelming evidence. He stressed that the CCP remains a grave threat to human rights, with millions persecuted since 1999.

Yang praised Representative Chris Smith for his long-standing leadership and bipartisan support for the Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act, which was scheduled for a vote on May 8 and indeed passed.