(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners in Russia and Germany have been busy with events to introduce the practice and raise awareness of the persecution of Falun Dafa (also called Falun Gong) in China.
A nine-day introductory seminar was held in Moscow, the first of its kind in the city, and an event was held in Vorontsovka to draw attention to the persecution in China. In Trier, Germany, practitioners held a three-day event on the occasion of the unveiling of a statue of Karl Marx, a gift from the Chinese regime. The practitioners' presence raised awareness of the true nature of communism and the crimes committed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Nine-day Seminar in Moscow
The first nine-day Falun Dafa seminar in Moscow was held from May 1 to 9, 2018, just a few days prior to the May 13 World Falun Dafa Day celebrations.
Attendees learn Falun Gong during the free nine-day seminar in Moscow.
Marianne received a Falun Gong flyer a few years ago on the street. She was moved by the accounts of the persecution of Falun Gong in China, and had written about it on her website to raise awareness of the persecution.
She met a Falun Gong practitioner later and learned more about the practice. She and her 7-year-old granddaughter came to learn Falun Gong after receiving an invitation to the nine-day introductory seminar.
Ksenia had heard of the benefits of practicing Falun Gong from a Russian practitioner in France. She also learned about the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) persecution of Falun Gong in China. Ksenia has studied several other mind-body practices, including yoga and qigong.
She has poor health even though she is young, and is looking for a practice to improve her health. She appreciated participating in the nine-day seminar.
Raising Awareness of the Persecution in Vorontsovka
Falun Gong practitioners held an event in a park in Vorontsovka, Russia on May 1, 2018 to introduce Falun Gong and raise awareness of the CCP's 19-year persecution of Falun Gong.
People sign a petition against the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong in a park in Vorontsovka, Russia.
A boy named Nikita who lives in Voronezh saw the practitioners as he was riding his bike in the park. He paused to learn more about Falun Gong. When he heard about the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong and the state-sanctioned live organ harvesting from prisoners of conscience, he signed the petition against the persecution without hesitation.
A young girl said after signing the petition, “Such a persecution should not occur on this Earth.”
Raising Awareness of the Persecution in Trier, Germany
May 5, 2018 was the 200th birthday of Karl Marx, the author of The Communist Manifesto. The CCP made a special presentation of a statue of Marx to the city of Trier, the birthplace of Marx. Several international human rights organizations, as well as members of the public and other parties expressed strong protest.
Falun Gong practitioners gathered in Trier for three days from May 4 to 6, during the time of the sculpture's unveiling. They raised awareness of the CCP's persecution and the state-sanctioned live organ harvesting from prisoners of conscience in China, the majority of whom are Falun Gong practitioners.
Practitioners demonstrated the Falun Gong exercises, talked with local people and tourists, and advised Chinese tourists to renounce their memberships in the CCP and its affiliated organizations.
A Falun Gong practitioner holds a placard on the streets of Trier.
Group exercise practice on the square across from the Simeonstiftplatz where the statue of Karl Marx was unveiled.
There were many Chinese students and tourists from China in Trier. The CCP dispatched many officials, professors and reporters to the city for the statue's unveiling ceremony.
A retired couple, their son and grandson came from China to attend the unveiling. The elder couple met with a Falun Gong practitioner as they stood in line to enter the ceremony venue.
The practitioner gave them a newspaper with information about Falun Gong and the persecution. The man did not dare to accept the paper, but his wife took it and quickly put it in her purse.
The practitioner talked to them about the CCP's crimes in persecuting Chinese people since it took power and the current wave of people quitting the CCP to ensure a safe future. The couple agreed to renounce their membership in the Young Pioneers.
Falun Gong practitioners set up a stand and posters in a downtown shopping area and near Simeonstiftplatz across from the Marx statue and the Porta Nigra. They demonstrated the exercises and raised awareness of the CCP's crimes, including the persecution of Falun Gong.
In the evening they held a candlelight vigil in front of the Porta Nigra. Four well-dressed women paused and watched the scene. A practitioner narrated cases of Falun Gong practitioners who lost their lives in the persecution. The four ladies looked at the portraits of the practitioners who died. One of them occasionally wiped away tears.
Candlelight vigil in front of the Porta Nigra to draw attention to the persecution of Falun Gong in China.
A middle-aged woman paused in front of the practitioners' stand. She said she knew about the persecution of Falun Gong in China and signed the petition against the CCP's live organ harvesting.
She mentioned that she watched the statue unveiling ceremony and shared that her first thought was “No!” She said, “This is not right. Such a large statue [of Karl Marx] stands right there. This is not right!”
Practitioners do the Falun Gong exercises together.
