(Minghui.org) Practitioners held activities to introduce Falun Dafa at Strasbourg’s railway station square and Place d’Austerlitz on September 22, 2024. The following day they held activities to expose the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) 25-year persecution of Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong) at the Conseil de l’Europe (Council of Europe) in Strasbourg.
Strasbourg is the largest city and capital of northeastern France’s Grand Est region. Strasbourg borders Germany and is situated on the Rhine River. The city’s rich and tumultuous history has given it a unique architectural heritage.
Practitioners raise awareness about the 25-year-long persecution at the Conseil de l’Europe on September 23.
Practitioners demonstrate the exercises, share information, and collect signatures on a petition calling for an end to the persecution near the Strasbourg railway station on September 22. Their activities attracted many residents and tourists.
Practitioners demonstrate the exercises and perform the waist drums at the Place d’Austerlitz.
Practitioners share information with passerby at the Place d’Austerlitz on September 22.
Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance Are Important Values
People at Strasbourg railway station square sign petitions supporting practitioners’ efforts to expose the persecution.
Stéphane is an engineer and met practitioners two years ago in front of the European Parliament (EP). When he saw practitioners at the railway station, he immediately signed the petition calling for an end to the persecution. He said, “I’m French and I think freedom of speech is very important. This kind of practice [Falun Gong] looks healthy and positive, and it would be sad if people could not practice it. It would be wonderful if we could help them.”
Seeing practitioners’ activities, he said that this also shows that China has another positive, humanistic side, and is not limited to the negative communist party. He said he hopes that people can continue to practice, including the Falun Dafa practitioners in China.
Étienne Peterano was drawn to the activities and stayed at the station square for a long time. This was his first time hearing about Falun Dafa and the CCP’s persecution, and he was moved. He said he hopes that Chinese people will have freedom of speech, and that powerful nations in the Americas and Europe should impose pressure on the Chinese government. He said he thought it was abnormal that the persecution has gone on for more than twenty years.
Étienne was inspired by practitioners’ perseverance and said, “You’re doing great. Please keep going. I support you. My heart is completely with you.”
Sofia Zioui is a student at the University of Strasbourg (Université de Strasbourg). Her major is English and she is studying English and Japanese. She said after signing the petition against forced organ harvesting: “It’s absolutely horrifying to know that today in a country like China, there is still persecution like this where they take out their personal grudge on them [Falun Gong practitioners]. I think they should be allowed to practice, especially exercises like Falun Gong, which do not hurt anyone. It’s extremely soothing to watch them exercise.” Sofia said that Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance are very important values. She said she greatly felt these values when she saw Falun Gong practitioners, and she also felt compassion and patience at the booth, “To uphold these values, people should persist in their efforts!”
Communism Is Humankind’s True Disaster
People sign petitions at the Place d’Austerlitz on September 22.
Jean-Luc Schruoffeneger is a professor of mathematics at an engineering school. He said he thinks the Chinese communist government is a murderous, fascist regime; to the CCP, five million people is a small number in a population of more than a billion. He also said the communist party has a mental illness, has stupid ideas, is at a low level, and is a disease for humankind.
André worked as a company manager and is now engaged in social work. He said he thinks China is an outstanding empire that went through numerous faiths, wars, and suffering. What’s unfortunate today is that the CCP treats many people unfairly, especially ethnic minorities, who are treated extremely badly. He said this is unfortunately China’s weakness, which makes him feel sad for the Chinese people.
He also said that for people to be free, they must obtain information and learn about the situation. “Real poverty is when people do not have a channel to obtain information and knowledge. But within China’s borders today, it’s very difficult for people to obtain correct information,” he said.
Nasser Benslimane is an IT engineer. He saw practitioners at the Place d’Austerlitz and said Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance are very good, healthy values. Practitioners told him that the CCP’s forced organ harvesting was first exposed in 2006. The CCP engages in censorship and spreads rumors and propaganda on social media. He heard the CCP pays fifty cents to people for each anti-Falun Gong message they post. “This is misuse,” he said. Additionally, the CCP constantly monitors practitioners and censors the Internet in China, so they aren’t able to freely express themselves.
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