(Minghui.org) December 10, 2025, Human Rights Day, marks the 77th anniversary of the United Nations adopting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Falun Dafa practitioners in the UK observe Human Rights Day each year with activities in London’s popular Chinatown, to expose the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) ongoing persecution of Falun Dafa in China, and to introduce this traditional mind-body cultivation practice to the public.
Falun Dafa practitioners held an event in London’s Chinatown on Human Rights Day, December 10.
Falun Dafa (also called Falun Gong) is a meditation discipline based on the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. The CCP began persecuting the practice in July 1999, as a particularly severe continuation of the Party’s decades-long suppression of basic human rights, freedom of belief, and freedom of speech.
During the Human Rights Day event this year, many passersby in Chinatown stopped to talk with practitioners and ask questions. When they learned about the situation in China, many signed a petition urging elected officials to take action to end the tragedy.
“Freedom belongs to everyone. No one should be suppressed by others,” one person remarked. “[Falun Dafa’s principles of] Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are great. Our world needs them,” another added.
People sign a petition after learning about the CCP’s persecution of Falun Dafa.
A Day of Unity
Rachel Wood, who owns a fiber optic telecommunications business in England, was surprised to hear how practitioners are mistreated in China for their belief. She could not understand why a government would suppress such a peaceful meditation group.
For many people, Human Rights Day is probably just another day. But when Rachel saw how Falun Dafa practitioners endured the cold to tell people about the persecution in China, she said, “For you, today could mean strength and unity. It also means getting back what belongs to you in the first place [human rights].”
Business owner Rachel Wood voiced her support for Falun Dafa.
Her husband added that more people need to support practitioners’ efforts. They both signed the petition to end the CCP’s forced organ harvesting of prisoners of conscience.
“A Person Should Not Be Suppressed for Kindness or Faith”
Ash and Leaya, two college students majoring in nursing, also signed the petition without hesitation after hearing about the CCP’s persecution of Falun Dafa. As students in the medical field, they said that they pay special attention to medical ethics and the dignity of life.
“We live with dignity and we have the right to voice for ourselves,” Ash said. “A person should not be suppressed for kindness or faith.”
Leaya added, “We should follow our belief system if it does not violate the law or moral principles. Unless we do something that harms others, we should not be persecuted.”
Ash and Leaya said they completely agree with Dafa’s principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. As future medical professionals, they realize the importance of sincerity toward patients, being considerate of others, and patience, as well as forgiveness, despite adversities.
“Human Rights Is Not an Abstract Concept”
Ahmed, an English teacher from Morocco, was visiting London with his wife and daughter. The family of three all signed the petition after learning of the human rights abuses against Falun Dafa practitioners.
“We all have the right to live and follow our belief systems,” Ahmed said. “No matter how different people are, we should accept one another. Human rights are a daily necessity, not an abstract concept.”
Both Ahmed and his wife said they would pass on the information to their relatives and friends, noting that when more people know about the persecution, there will be more support for bringing about its end.
Say No to Organ Harvesting
Ashna and Amy, two young women from Scotland, were vacationing in London. They noticed the activity and stopped to read the posters and ask questions.
The women were stunned to hear that Falun Dafa practitioners are detained in labor camps or prisons, then killed, and their organs are harvested and sold. “This is too brutal. How can officials kill a person and extract their organs?!” exclaimed Ashna.
Both women said that this situation jeopardizes the entire organ donation system. Amy said, “When people hear about the organ harvesting, they might think twice before registering for an organ donation. This is not good for our society.”
They also agreed that the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are values that can benefit everyone. After they signed the petitions, the young women said they would share this information on social media to further raise awareness.
Chinese Students
Four Chinese students approached the booth during the Human Rights Day event. They read the posters and asked numerous questions.
It turned out that everything the students thought they knew about Falun Dafa came from the CCP’s defamatory propaganda. After they left China, these students heard different opinions and they were curious to find out more. They thanked practitioners for providing in-depth information about Falun Dafa.
Candlelight Vigil
That evening, practitioners held a candlelight vigil on the road adjacent to the Chinese Embassy, to commemorate practitioners who lost their lives in the persecution. Despite the cold and wind, they continued talking to passersby about the persecution in China.
One practitioner who participated in the event said they’ve done this for over 20 years. Because the vigil was held on Human Rights Day, the event is especially significant because it reminds people that, somewhere on this planet, people are still persecuted for their beliefs and need our help.
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Category: Rallies & Protests
