(Minghui.org) To commemorate the peaceful appeal in Beijing 24 years ago, Falun Dafa practitioners held events in front of Chinese Embassies and Consulates in five German cities on April 25, 2023, including Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Frankfurt, and Düsseldorf.
With group exercises and posters, practitioners illustrated what Falun Dafa is and how practitioners have been persecuted by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) since 1999. Upon hearing about the brutality, especially the CCP’s state-sanctioned forced organ harvesting, many passersby condemned the human rights violations and signed petitions to support practitioners.
A press release was also issued by the German Falun Dafa Association. After dozens of Falun Dafa practitioners were illegally arrested in Tianjin in April 1999, about 10,000 practitioners peacefully appealed at the State Council’s National Appeals Office on April 25, 1999, requesting their release and the freedom to practice Falun Dafa.
The appeal was peacefully resolved by the premier and detained practitioners were released. News media from around the world also praised practitioners for their calm throughout the event. However, then CCP leader Jiang Zemin launched a nationwide suppression three months later, which has continued till today.
Importance of Rejecting the CCP
Maria, one of the practitioners who organised the event in Düsseldorf, said the message remains the same as the peaceful appeal in Beijing 24 years ago. That is, she sincerely hopes practitioners in China can freely practice their belief in Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. “Since 1999, a large number of practitioners in China have been defamed, arrested, detained, tortured, and killed. All of these tragedies must end,” she said.
“The CCP has been harming citizens for decades through numerous political campaigns, including the persecution of Falun Dafa. This has brought endless suffering to Falun Dafa practitioners and their families. Therefore, Chinese citizens, including those working in the Chinese Embassy and Consulates, should sever their ties with the CCP before the regime is weeded out by history.”
“We Will Keep Coming Until the Suppression Ends”
Iris participated in the event in Munich and explained the importance of the peaceful protest. She said Falun Dafa has been persecuted in China for 24 years, and the atrocities still continue, including forced organ harvesting. She was happy to see that some countries have passed resolutions and bills to oppose the brutality. The United States has also passed a bill to condemn the organ harvesting in China.
A peaceful event like this in front the Chinese Consulate is not only important for Falun Dafa practitioners, but also the general public. If practitioners do not have the freedom to follow the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, society will be in danger. “That is why we will keep coming until the suppression ends,” she said.
Iris took a day off from work so that she could participate in the event. She hopes that more people, both Chinese and Westerners, can recognize the threat posed by the CCP. When more citizens join the momentum, the persecution will stop.
Beauty of Falun Dafa
Irina is a Falun Dafa practitioner from Romania, and she attended the event in Munich. Currently living in Nuremberg, she said that Falun Dafa practitioners in China were suppressed for their belief. She came today to lend her voice to seek freedom of belief. “Falun Dafa is indeed great. More people would have benefited from it had there not been this persecution,” she said.
Irina heard about the practice from her brother three years ago. Upon finishing reading Zhuan Falun, she found that the practice was very precious. “This book answered all my questions and showed me the path of life,” she explained.
The practice improved both mind and body for Irina. In the beginning, her mother could not understand why she wanted to practice. But she was impressed by Irina’s positive changes. “I am grateful that Falun Dafa has become part of your life,” her mother told her. “Falun Dafa is indeed beautiful.”
Irina agreed that the practice has given her new perspectives. As a professional dancer, she sometimes competes with her peers. “Through practicing Falun Dafa, I was able to let go of jealousy and other negative thoughts,” she said. “Right now I just want to dance with a pure heart and present the wonderfulness of Falun Dafa to people.”
Chinese version available
(Clearwisdom)
