(Minghui.org) Practitioners held an event in Stara Zagora on September 21, 2024, the International Day of Peace, to tell people about the unprecedented human rights violations the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been carrying out against Falun Dafa for the past 25 years. They collected signatures on petitions condemning the CCP’s persecution of the practice and to stop the CCP’s forced organ harvesting from practitioners while they are still alive.
Practitioners demonstrated the Falun Dafa exercises in Stara Zagora on September 21.
Known as the “City of Lime Trees and Straight Streets,” Stara Zagora is the sixth-largest city in the nation and has a rich history dating back 2,500 years. Its ancient sites date to the Roman Empire and its temperate weather in southern Bulgaria make it a popular destination for both locals and tourists. Practitioners from Yambol, Chepelare, and Peshtera joined Stara Zagora practitioners to help explain the facts to passersby.
People signed two petitions to support practitioners in protesting the persecution in China: One condemns the CCP’s human right abuses, and the other calls on the Bulgarian government to ensure that Bulgarian people and its institutions are not involved in the CCP’s forced organ harvesting operations.
People learn about Falun Dafa and the CCP’s crimes against humanity.
Passersby sign the petition to end the persecution.
“May God Stop This Violence”
Many people who stopped by the booth were already aware of the suffering of the Chinese people under the CCP. They were sympathetic to practitioners and willing to leave their signatures in support.
Galina did not need any more information or persuasion. As soon as she read the title of the leaflet, she was in favor of the petition to condemn the CCP’s brutality. “How can we help? It’s just awful over there,” she said. She said she was aware of China’s policies, the terrible surveillance of its people, the lack of information, and the human rights abuses.
Desi and Gospodinka were horrified by a practitioner’s account of the violence against Falun Dafa practitioners in China. “I work in Germany for a foundation that helps to protect women and children. I know that women are trafficked, but I hadn’t heard of this [persecution]. It’s horrible!” said Gospodinka.
Desi said that she and her friend would sign the petition condemning the CCP to stand in solidarity with practitioners. She said, “We are Christians. We need to sign to make this insanity stop! May God stop this violence.”
Young people did not need a long explanation about the persecution and atrocities in China that have been going on for 25 years. They very quickly understood the meaning of the event and that by signing the petitions they were helping to stop this evil.
Tourists Express Support
Many tourists who passed by said that they had heard about the persecution on their travels. Ribard from France lingered for a long time in front of the banner with information about the CCP’s criminal activities. He spoke little Bulgarian, but he understood the purpose of the event and signed the petitions. He took a flyer, and a practitioner explained how to access information about Falun Dafa in French.
Anastasia, who lives and works in the Netherlands, said she knew about the persecution and had signed petitions in her country. She said she saw a film related to the persecution, and the emotion it had elicited was still with her.
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 over 100 countries and regions worldwide. Its teachings are based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. Millions of people who have embraced the teachings and practiced the 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. 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 that has the power to override the police and judicial systems. Its 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 25 years. However, the actual number is believed to be much higher due to the difficulty in getting information out of China. 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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