Lansing - People handcuffed, tied to chairs and looking bloody and beaten, dotted the north lawn of the Capitol on Wednesday.

They were part of the exhibit "Persecution Meets Principle," presented by practitioners of Falun Gong, a Chinese spiritual group protesting what they say is the persecution of their beliefs in China.

The participants painted their faces to make it look like they'd been beaten, and tied themselves to cages and chairs. Others dressed as police guards. There also were torture devices laying on the lawn, and signs describing the various means of torture.

Evan Mantyk, a Lathrup Village resident and practitioner of Falun Gong, says the exhibit is aimed to raise awareness about the situation in China.

"This is a peaceful religion," Mantyk said.

"When the whole world knows they won't stand for this and make it clear this needs to stop."

According to the practitioners, Falun Gong is a spiritual practice that emphasizes truth, compassion and tolerance. It involves both exercise and meditation and was first introduced to the public through Li Hongzhi in 1992.

Practitioners such as Farmington Hills resident Daphne Jia say the practice was outlawed because the Chinese government didn't like that it was becoming popular. The practice was officially banned in 1999 by the Chinese government.

"They say you can believe what you want as long as we can control you," Jia said.

Marilyn McCullough, assistant director of East Asian Studies at MSU and a Chinese historian, said although the Chinese constitution allows for freedom of religion, it has to be one of the religions the Chinese government allows: Islam, Buddhism, Taoism, Protestant Christianity and a form of Catholicism, which is not affiliated with the Vatican. Falun Gong is not included.

"A number of members of the communist government were attracted to Falun Gong," McCullough said. "The government said, 'We cannot have this sect.'"

Practitioners said, however, the leader of the Chinese government at that time, Jiang Zemin, outlawed the group because it was drawing too many members.

"He was afraid of losing the hearts and minds of the people," Jia said.

That outlawing of the Falun Gong is what the practitioners say has lead to the death of nearly 100,000 of the religion's practitioners.

Shiyi Zhou, a current 69-year-old Madison Heights resident, was born in China and was part of the exhibit. His daughter, Jennifer Zhou, translated her father's words into English, saying Shiyi wants to tell people what he and others have faced.

"I want to tell the American people how Falun Gong are persecuted," Jennifer Zhou translated Shiyi Zhou's words.

"The local police station once came to our home and asked me questions about Falun Gong."

People who passed by the exhibit said they were unaware of what was happening.

"I wouldn't expect that this would still be going on," Lansing resident Cody Barnhart said.

The exhibit will be at the United Methodist Church, 33112 Grand River Ave., in Farmington from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday.