(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners participated in a local cultural event in Ghent on September 13, 2025, to introduce the spiritual practice and raise awareness of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution. Many people signed a petition calling to end the CCP’s persecution of Falun Dafa practitioners that has been ongoing for 26 years.

Falun Dafa practitioners collect signatures on a petition at the event in Ghent.

Mr. Schokkaard, one of the event organizers, said that although he didn’t know much about Falun Dafa, he agreed with the Falun Dafa principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, “Our society will become better when all people have compassion.”

Mr. Schokkaard, one of the event organizers, visited the Falun Dafa booth.

Mr. Schokkaard, one of the event’s founders, has organized it for the past 31 years. He said the purpose was for groups of different cultures to showcase their ideas and practices, and promote exchange and understanding. He saw practitioners do the Falun Dafa exercises in the city service center and parks. “I think their aim is to improve their minds. It’s relaxing and helps people get along better,” he said, “The persecution is terrible! People should have freedom of thought and belief. If a government doesn’t allow different opinions, it’s an autocracy.”

After Ilanka and her friends signed the petition she said she had heard about the persecution a few years ago, “I hope more people know what’s happening and think about how to stop it. Those kind people [practitioners] shouldn’t suffer like this. Everyone has freedom of belief.” She said the values of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance are truly positive and good for mind and body.

Anna was appalled by the CCP’s persecution, especially its crime of harvesting organs from living practitioners. She said that Falun Dafa practitioners’ spiritual practice following Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance was respectable, and that she also tries to improve herself. She said she hoped to find a group exercise site near her home.

A man expressed his support for Falun Dafa and said he initially thought it was a political activity, but changed his view after finding out the background. “What you are doing is great,” he said. He said he could tell from practitioners’ demeanor that they were truly peaceful and compassionate. “Your practice is positive and shouldn’t be persecuted.”