(Minghui.org) On July 16 and 20, practitioners held events in Nizhny Novgorod and Irkutsk, Russia to tell people how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) persecutes Falun Dafa and to mark the 24th anniversary of their peacefully exposing the brutality. People expressed their sympathy, and many signed the petition calling for the persecution to end.
Signature Collection in Nizhny Novgorod
Practitioners organised two petition drives in Nizhny Novgorod on July 16 and 20 to collect signatures condemning the CCP’s crimes against humanity, especially its forced organ harvesting operations that target Falun Dafa practitioners and other minorities.
On July 16, the drive was held at an event on a main pedestrian street in Nizhny Novgorod. Practitioners set up posters with information about the transplant industry in China and how people are killed on-demand for their organs. The posters also introduced Falun Dafa and how it was celebrated in China until the persecution began in 1999. They also distributed informational booklets.
The street was crowded with tourists from different Russian cities. Many people said that it was the first time they heard about live organ harvesting, and signed the petition.
One young woman read the information booklet carefully and said that she was interested in practicing Falun Dafa. When the practitioner explained the practice to her, she said that she wanted to learn more and would look into it.
Three young men, Igor, Timur and Kirill, stopped to learn more about Falun Dafa and the persecution. They said that they were outraged by the crimes of totalitarian regimes, especially China. They also denounced the CCP’s forced organ harvesting.
A mother with a 9-year-old son passed by. The boy stopped, took a booklet, pointed his phone at the QR code and signed the petition.
On July 20, the day the widespread suppression began in China, practitioners held another petition drive in a square near the railway station. Many people passing through the area are from the suburbs or work in construction.
One of the construction workers, Nicholas, was asked by a practitioner if he wanted to sign a petition to end the persecution. “Of course, I do!” he said.
Roman, a cherry seller, said that he was happy to place his signature on the petition to condemn the CCP for its crimes.
George had attended Falun Dafa classes in-person before and saw practitioners at the square. When he learned that there were online classes, he decided to attend the webinars and resume doing the Falun Dafa exercises.
Event in Irkutsk
On July 20, Falun Dafa practitioners from different cities in Russia gathered on a main street in Irkutsk for an event to commemorate the persecution victims in China. One group of practitioners did the Falun Dafa exercises, while the others held portraits of practitioners killed in the persecution.
This scene, along with bright posters and banners reading “Falun Dafa” and “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance,” drew the attention of Irkutsk residents, many of whom were heading home after work. They stopped and read information about Falun Dafa and the suppression in China. Practitioners handed out informational flyers and collected signatures on a petition calling for an end to the persecution.
When they learned about the extent of the brutal persecution of Falun Dafa practitioners and forced organ harvesting in China, people expressed their sympathy and said that they hope the persecution will end soon.
Irina Savelyeva and her daughters listened attentively as practitioners described the human rights violations in China. Irina said that because she is a Christian, she understands and sympathises with Chinese Falun Dafa practitioners who are suffering for their faith.
Marina Ivanova and her daughter stopped to talk with practitioners. After learning about the brutal persecution in China, they decided to sign the petition. They were very surprised that such brutal torture and even organ harvesting could take place in China today. They said that it is important to stop the CCP’s crimes against peaceful Falun Dafa practitioners.
Chinese version available
(Clearwisdom)
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