(Minghui.org) Continued from Part 1
Falun Gong practitioners held rallies in Zurich, Switzerland’s largest city, and Bern, the nation’s capital, to mark 23 years of protesting the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)’s persecution on July 22 and July 23, 2022.
Practitioners demonstrated the exercises and introduced the physical and mental benefits of practicing Falun Gong to passersby. They spoke out against the CCP’s organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners and collected signatures on a petition calling for an end to the persecution. Several Swiss politicians sent letters of support.
Doing the Falun Gong exercises beside the Chinese Consulate in Zurich
A practitioner introduces Falun Gong while others demonstrate the exercises in the center of Zurich.
A passerby reads a Falun Gong flyer
Demonstrating the Falun Gong exercises during the rally on Kornhaus Square
Artist: Falun Gong Is What We Need
Falun Gong practitioners did the exercises near the Chinese Consulate in Zurich and collected signatures. Many people were traveling through the area on trolley buses and saw the activities. Retired artist Rosa Marie was on one of the trolley buses, but after seeing practitioners meditating quietly, she decided to get off and went over to practitioners to sign the petition calling for an end to the persecution. She started to read the flyer she received from a practitioner.
“Seeing such shocking pictures [about the persecution], and seeing you meditating here in such a hot weather, I am very moved,” Rosa Marie said.
Rosa Marie, a retired artist, reads a flyer.
Rosa Marie said that she had heard of the CCP’s crimes of organ harvesting. “It’s horrible. It’s like hell,” she said. “I know it’s still happening, but it must end.”
She said that Falun Gong practitioners’ efforts to raise awareness about the persecution will affect the world. “In today’s troubled times, what Falun Gong practitioners do is exactly what we need. This can heal the troubled times and everything will be fine,” she said.
She repeatedly expressed that she was deeply moved by Falun Gong practitioners. “You have done a great job here. I hope people can be deeply moved in such a good place,” she said.
She said she decided to approach the activities because she was moved, otherwise she would have been in the pool already. “It’s amazing that you guys are doing this, and I’m so grateful to you.”
Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance Are Important Principles Everyone Needs
Valmir Morina stopped at the Falun Gong practitioners’ rally in the center of Zurich and signed the petition to show his support for Falun Gong practitioners. He talked about his perception of Falun Gong. “I have a very positive impression. Meditation makes people feel calm, gain energy, and is also good for the spirit,” he said.
Valmir Morina had read information about Falun Dafa on social media. He said he was interested in learning more about Dafa cultivation, so he wanted to find some Dafa books to read.
Valmir Morina said everyone would benefit if more people followed Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance
Falun Gong’s principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance resonated with him. “These are important principles for everyone, and everyone can practice them,” he said.
He lamented that today’s society lacks these values. “For example, goodness is almost impossible to see. If we see badness in others, we will blame them instead of helping them. If people can return to these three principles, everyone will gain something from it,” he said.
He praised Falun Gong practitioners for their perseverance over the past 23 years: “Please stick to your beliefs. Beliefs will continue to survive,” he said.
He said that Falun Gong has remained firm in China for 23 years despite the brutal persecution, which demonstrates that “there is truth here. Otherwise it would not last such a long of a time.”
“All People Should Unite with You”
Ilena Neumann from Venezuela saw Falun Gong practitioners meditating quietly in the busy center of Zurich. She also got off her tram and went to the Falun Gong practitioners’ information booth so that she could learn more.
“People are busy shopping on this street. You [Falun Gong practitioners] are very noticeable here, so peaceful and touching. Thank you. Please keep it up,” she said.
“When I saw something about protesting the CCP, I was deeply moved. I know what it means to be persecuted because I fled my country. The Communist Party doesn’t care about human life, they just want to destroy peace. They are destroying world peace. I am with you,” she said.
Ilena took the initiative to sign the petition to show her support for Falun Gong practitioners.
“I am with you, and I will do whatever I can, even if it is just a little help. I hope that through signing, China can give people more human rights and Falun Dafa practitioners can continue their practice. I hope it is helpful,” she said.
After learning that Falun Gong practitioners have protested the persecution for 23 years, she praised their perseverance. “You protest in public and fight for human rights. In our country we also talk about socialism. We need to fight for humanity. I’m really honored to meet you,” she said.
“Please persevere for the people of your country, although you are not in China,” she said. “People will tell China what is happening overseas, so you will have more impact. Please keep it up.”
She said that more people should support Falun Gong practitioners. She said that people from all countries should stand with Falun Gong practitioners.
“One’s Faith Can’t Be Suppressed”
Many people signed the petition at the rally to support Falun Gong practitioners and expressed their interest in Falun Gong. Several people said they planned to learn the exercises.
Shelif from Egypt was one of the people who was interested in learning the exercises. “People are under a lot of pressure right now. I think this [practicing Falun Gong] can help people relax,” he said.
He did not understand why the CCP would want to persecute Falun Gong. “It makes me feel it’s unfair that people are not allowed to practice Falun Gong in China,” he said. “People who practice Falun Gong are imprisoned. This is not acceptable. All people should live freely, have freedom of thought and freedom of belief. So we can have a better world than we have now.”
Ilia Guluashva and his wife
Ilia Guluashva, an electronics engineer and his wife from Georgia of the former Soviet Union, were traveling in Europe. They signed the petition to support Falun Gong practitioners’ efforts. Ilia Guluashva hoped that more people learn about the CCP’s regime and system.
Owin Tudor Benitez, a student from Spain, said, “Persecution is definitely wrong. It’s hard to imagine and understand that the persecution has continued for so long.” He admired practitioners’ perseverance over the past 23 years, and said, “It’s the power of faith, and one’s faith can’t be suppressed.” He thought of learning Falun Gong and hoped to obtain better mental health. He believed that one day he will be bold enough to protest the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong outside the Chinese Embassy.
Background: What Is Falun Dafa and Why Is the CCP Persecuting It?
Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong) was first introduced to the public by Mr. Li Hongzhi in Changchun, China, in 1992. The spiritual discipline is now practiced in more than 100 countries and regions worldwide. Millions of people who have embraced the teachings, which are based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, and have learned the five exercises, have experienced improved health and well-being.
Jiang Zemin, former head of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), perceived the spiritual discipline’s growing popularity as a threat to the CCP’s atheistic ideology and on July 20, 1999, he issued an order to eradicate the practice.
Under Jiang’s personal direction, the CCP established the 610 Office, an extralegal security organization with the power to override the police and judicial systems and whose sole function is to carry out the persecution of Falun Dafa.
Minghui.org has confirmed the deaths of thousands of practitioners as a result of the persecution over the past 23 years. The actual number is believed to be much higher. Countless practitioners have been imprisoned and tortured for their faith.
There is concrete evidence that the CCP sanctions the harvesting of organs from detained practitioners, who are murdered to supply China’s organ transplant industry.
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Category: Rallies & Protests
