(Minghui.org) Finnish newspaper Helsingin Uutiset (Helsinki News) published a report: “Chinese attack protesters in a park popular with tourists” on January 27, 2025. The newspaper Vantaan Sanomat reprinted the article, and it was displayed on buses in Helsinki and Vantaa on January 30.

Helsingin Uutiset published an article about an attack on Falun Gong practitioners on January 27, 2025. (Screenshot courtesy Helsingin Uutiset)

The incident happened on January 16, when Finnish Falun Gong practitioner Niu Guangfa was harassed and verbally abused by two Chinese youths at the popular tourist attraction, Sibelius Park. The pair also tried to snatch Mr. Niu’s cell phone. He called the police, who quickly arrived at the scene. Mr. Niu went to the police station afterwards to give a detailed account of the incident and submitted evidence such as pictures, audio and video of the scene.

Media Coverage

Helsingin Uutiset reported that the editorial office reviewed the video and pictures, which showed two Chinese-speaking men arguing with Falun Gong practitioner Mr. Niu, and trying to forcibly take his mobile phone as he filmed the incident.

Falun Gong (also known as Falun Dafa) emphasizes cultivating one’s morals and includes slow-moving exercises and meditation. Falun Gong practitioners have been persecuted in China since 1999, when the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) suppressed the practice.

Ilmari Nevasmaa of the Finnish Falun Dafa Association said Falun Gong practitioners do the exercises in Sibelius Park every day, and tell people about the persecution in China.

Ilmari Nevasmaa said that in the past year, Falun Gong practitioners have been attacked and threatened in Helsinki parks, and their banners were torn down by Chinese people. Mr. Nevasmaa believes that these recent harassment incidents in Finland may be part of the CCP’s larger unrestricted warfare.

Helsinki News interviewed Helsinki Police Chief Inspector Jarmo Heinonen, who said that the police received reports of related harassment incidents. Police Chief Inspector Heinonen said, “As far as I know, Falun Gong cannot be practiced in China. Some Chinese people went there to express their dissatisfaction with Falun Gong practitioners’ activities.” Heinonen added that practitioners’ protests “are peaceful.” They expose the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong, and practitioners wish to tell Chinese tourists the facts.

Practitioners also collect signatures calling on the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Group of Seven (G7) to take action to stop China’s forced organ harvesting. In 2019, an independent tribunal in the UK ruled that the CCP was forcibly harvesting organs from prisoners. The European Parliament also believes that the reports of forced organ harvesting are credible.

Public Discussion and Concern

The Finnish media’s report drew public attention and many comments.

Netizen Cru51 wrote, “Why do we encounter agents controlled by the Chinese government harassing everyone in the park? In fact, this is not the first similar news in Europe. They have done this in other places. In China, this situation is very common. For example, when foreign journalists go to certain places where they are not expected to appear, there are usually some seemingly ordinary people who suddenly appear and stop them from taking pictures.” Cru51h also wrote, “Yes, it is indeed strange, but it is clear that China’s influence has infiltrated very deeply.”

Netizen Elukka wrote, “This is not a new phenomenon in the West. For many years, China’s ‘police stations’ have existed in Europe, ‘cooperating’ with local police, such as persecuting dissidents.”

Netizen Finnish_Nationalist wrote, “This protest is against China’s persecution of Falun Gong. The purpose of the practitioners is to convey the truth of this persecution to Chinese tourists. Although this is not the first time such a situation has occurred in Europe - Chinese consulate staff have personally come forward to crack down on practitioners. In any case, this behavior is unacceptable.”

Netizen MaterialCattle wrote, “In a free society, we have the right to hold different opinions, which is also part of our freedom. If the country begins to ban different opinions, we will go down a path similar to China. Today, China has implemented censorship in our country, which is already very sick.”

The Incident

Niu Guangfa and other Falun Gong practitioners go to the Sibelius Monument every day and distribute fliers. At least two buses carrying Chinese tourists come there every day. The practitioners also hang large banners which have information about the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong and collect signatures to end these human rights abuses.

Mr. Niu does the Falun Gong exercises at Sibelius Park.

At 1:00 p.m. on January 16, 2025, Mr. Niu was alone at the site in the park when he noticed two young Chinese men hiding behind a tree, filming him. Mr. Niu immediately used his mobile phone to record what they were doing. The two men suddenly ran towards Mr. Niu, and one of them began to attack him, cursing and recording with his mobile phone. Then, the other man took out his mobile phone to record the attack. Mr. Niu Guangfa also used his mobile phone to record the scene, and at the same time used another mobile phone to call his son and ask him to call the police.

Mr. Niu’s attackers. The youth on the right cursed Mr. Niu.

Seeing that he was recording them, the man grabbed Mr. Niu’s phone. Mr. Niu said, “The young man kept trying to grab my phone. He pushed me back more than ten meters and finally pushed me onto the stone next to the Sibelius head statue.”

The police soon arrived at the scene. With the help of other Falun Gong practitioners, Mr. Niu reported the case to the police and provided evidence, including audio recordings, videos, and photos. In Mr. Niu’s cell phone recording, one of the young men said to the other after hearing Mr. Niu’s warning that he would call the police, “Whatever happens, I’m not afraid. We already reported you to the Chinese Embassy.”

On September 21, 2024, two local female practitioners were also harassed by two Chinese young men at the park. The men approached them, knocked down their banners, and threatened them, “If you want to be safe in Finland, behave!” Then the two men left.

Two Chinese youths knocked down the practitioners’ banner at Sibelius Park.

They returned, took photos of the banner laying on the ground, and left. Later they returned again and took photos of Ms. Qian Xiaoling and the other practitioner, claiming that they would hand the photos over to the Chinese Embassy.

The practitioners immediately reported the incident to the Finnish police.