(Minghui.org) Practitioners in Italy held series of activities between April 24 and 27, 2024 commemorating the peaceful appeal in Beijing 25 years ago and calling for an end to the suppression of Falun Dafa in China. From south to north, the events were held in Milan, Turin, Padova, Rome, Sardinia, Naples, and others.
Milan: “Thank You for the Information”
Practitioners in Milan peacefully protested in front of the Chinese Consulate on April 24 calling to stop the persecution of Falun Dafa in China.
Some pedestrians stopped to talk with practitioners. One man was surprised to hear that practitioners were brutally persecuted for their faith and some were even killed for their organs.
Through the conversation, the man learned that the more people stepped forward to support Falun Dafa and the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, the sooner these tragedies will end. He signed a petition calling to end the suppression in China and said, “Thank you for the information and I sincerely wish every practitioner well.”
Turin: “The World Needs Conscience”
Practitioners from Piedmont and Liguria gathered at Piazza Carignano in Turin (Italian: Torino) on April 25, to commemorate the peaceful appeal in Beijing 25 years ago.
Known as the Heart of Turin, Piazza Carignano is a main plaza in the city and many people stopped to read the information about Falun Dafa. Some of them signed petitions calling to stop the brutality in China. One of them thanked practitioners for their efforts. Another one said, “The world needs a conscience and we must end this nightmare.”
Sardinia: Cherishing Traditional Values
Practitioners in Sardinia (Italian: Sardegna) held an event at Piazza Garibaldi in the capital city Cagliari on April 25. Despite the heavy wind, lots of people watched the exercise demonstration and some read information about Falun Dafa.
Impressed by the exercise music and gentle movements, a retiree asked what Falun Dafa is. One practitioner explained to him about Falun Dafa as well as the benefits for mind and body. He was very interested in the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance and said these traditional values must be preserved.
Quite a few people were interested in learning the exercises. One girl from the port city of Genova asked if there is a practice site in her city because she really wanted to learn the practice.
Some people said they’ve seen practitioners doing exercises outdoors. They couldn’t understand why the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) would suppress such a peaceful group. One businessman who previously worked in China also asked some questions. He was shocked to hear how the CCP brutally persecutes practitioners. He wished practitioners well and said he hopes the persecution ends soon.
Rome: Learning the Practice
Practitioners in Rome came to the Via dei Fori Imperiali on April 27 and held an event next to the Temple of Peace. With posters, banners, and exercise demonstrations, practitioners explained how the CCP brutally suppresses Falun Dafa in China.
A large number of tourists from around the world and local residents stopped for information about Falun Dafa. Some talked with practitioners to learn more. Many people stopped to take pictures or videos of the exercise demonstration. Some stood next to practitioners and mimicked their movements.
A woman said she previously saw a march of Falun Dafa practitioners in New York. She could feel strong energy as she watched them and wanted to learn the exercises. Before she left, she signed up for a online session to learn the exercises (LearnFalunGong.com).
Padua: Safeguarding Basic Rights
Practitioners in Padua (Italian: Padova) held an event near Galleria Tito Livio on April 27. From reading posters and materials, and talking with practitioners, many people learned how Falun Dafa practitioners peacefully appealed in Beijing 25 years ago after practitioners in Tianjin were arrested. They praised practitioners for safeguarding basic human rights and signed their petition.
Background: What Is the April 25 Appeal?
Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong) was first introduced to the public by Mr. Li Hongzhi in Changchun, China, in 1992. The spiritual discipline is now practiced in over 100 countries worldwide. Millions of people have embraced the teachings—which are based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance as well as five gentle exercises—and experienced improved health and well-being.
On April 23 & 24, 1999, police officials in Tianjin, a city near Beijing, assaulted and arrested dozens of practitioners who had gathered outside a magazine office to discuss errors in a recently-published article attacking Falun Dafa. As word spread of the arrests and more practitioners inquired with officials, they were told they had to take their appeals to Beijing.
The following day, April 25, some 10,000 Falun Dafa practitioners spontaneously gathered at the Central Appeals office in Beijing, as they had been instructed by Tianjin officials. The gathering was peaceful and orderly.
Several Falun Dafa representatives were called in to meet with Chinese Premier, Zhu Rongji, and members of his staff. That evening, practitioners’ concerns were answered. The arrested practitioners in Tianjin were released and everyone went home.
Jiang Zemin, former head of the CCP, perceived the spiritual discipline’s growing popularity as a threat to the CCP’s atheistic ideology and issued an order to ban Falun Dafa on July 20, 1999.
Minghui.org has confirmed the deaths of thousands of practitioners due to the persecution over the years; the actual number is suspected to be much higher. More have been imprisoned and tortured for their faith.
There is concrete evidence that the CCP sanctions the harvesting of organs from detained practitioners, who are murdered to supply the organ transplant industry.
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