(Minghui.org) People hurried across the Sint Servaasbrug bridge in Maastricht, the Netherlands, which spans the Maas River on the afternoon of September 27, 2026. Falun Dafa practitioners held an information day event on the square in front of Maastricht City Hall.
They introduced Falun Dafa to people from the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and other nations who visited the city and informed them about the persecution by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Their exercise demonstrated caught the attention of many passersby who stopped to watch.
The Sint Servaasbrug bridge in Maastricht, the Netherlands (Minghui.org)
Maastricht is located in southeastern Netherlands and borders Belgium and Germany. The Maastricht Treaty that was signed in 1992 and established the European Union (EU) which further made this city a significant landmark. It is also home to Maastricht University.
Practitioners set up an information booth on the square in front of the city hall. They told people about Falun Dafa, distributed informational materials about the persecution, and collected signatures on a petition.
Practitioners held an information day in Maastricht on September 27, 2026. (Minghui.org)
Passersby Encourage Practitioners
“The Chinese government has strengthened its control and management in China as well as overseas. It persecutes Falun Dafa and Uyghurs. We should be vigilant and make sure it doesn’t extend it’s long arm into Maastricht,” said Louis Ippas, who works for the local newspaper, De Nieuwe Ster (The New Star). His paper reported in-depth on the Chinese Confucius Institutes’ and CCP-sponsored students’ activities in Maastricht.
Louis recorded photos of the torture suffered by practitioners shown on the display board. “The human rights situation in China is truly horrible. We should have a clear understanding of this,” he said. “Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance are great values. I think this is exactly the lifestyle we should follow. We should be honest, have sympathy for others, and make the world more beautiful.”
Louis records photos of torture suffered by practitioners. (Minghui.org)
Ronnie Simons from Belgium said, “The values of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance are great. Everyone should follow these principles. You are very calm and peaceful. The Chinese government should not treat faith groups like this with such brutality.”
Olaksrngaa and Adiba are high school classmates and live in Belgium. They read the information on the display boards and then signed the petition to support practitioners.
“My family and I do not like communist governments. I have great sympathy for those being persecuted in China and those victims of forced organ harvesting,” Olaksrngaa said. “The principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance are great. They are worth keeping in mind and we should remind ourselves to follow them.”
Adiba commended the event, “You thought of a great way to tell people about this scary thing happening in China. I really appreciate what you’re doing. What we can do is offer our support.”
People sign the petition. (Minghui.org)
Practitioners Hope More People Learn About the Persecution
Peter is a software information administrator at a steel company and is responsible for managing all the company’s software applications. He started practicing Falun Dafa soon after the persecution started in 1999. After he read Falun Dafa’s teachings he understood why people suffer hardships and the meaning of life. He learned how to handle conflicts and disputes and how to be a genuinely good person.
Peter said, “I think the Chinese government’s persecution of Falun Dafa practitioners is the greatest injustice. People are being severely punished simply for wanting to be good. I cannot imagine the torture and abuse they suffer!”
Petra is a member of the European Tian Guo Marching Band. When her marriage began falling apart in 2003, she hit a low point in life and wondered if anything good still existed in the world. She later learned about Falun Dafa. She said Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance changed how she looked at life: she complained less and understood and listened to others. She became a better mother, wife, sister, and friend. Her life became grounded and stable.
After learning about the persecution, she began to actively participate in events to raise awareness. She said, “I know many practitioners from China who’ve talked about how they’ve been persecuted. I also read the book, Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party, and learned the true colors of the CCP. I know the pressure and constraints faced by practitioners in China. They cannot practice freely as I do.”
Petra hopes that every person can be free of oppression, think independently, and enjoy freedom. She wants to let more people know about her amazing experiences after she began practicing Falun Dafa, explaining that the teachings help people to “stay kind and willing to help others; distinguish good from evil and choose to support good; listen to and understand every person and every event we encounter in life.”
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