(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners in Germany held an information day in Duisburg on June 12, 2021. They introduced Falun Dafa to the public, demonstrated the exercises, gave traditional waist drum performances and collected signatures on a petition to condemn the ongoing persecution in China. The event was held in the bustling city center, and many people stopped to watch the exercise demo and the waist drum performances. Some learned the exercises on site and others signed a petition calling on officials to help end the decades-long persecution in China. 

Practitioners demonstrate the Falun Dafa exercises.Waist drum performance

Located at the confluence of the Rhine and Ruhr rivers in western Germany, Duisburg is one of the largest inland ports in Europe. With the decreased cases of coronavirus infections, most stores and restaurants have reopened and resumed normal business hours. 

Practitioners talk to passersby about Falun Dafa.

Between the exercise demonstrations, practitioners explained to passersby through a loudspeaker about the mind and body benefits of practicing Falun Dafa. They explained that the practice focuses on becoming a better person by following the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. They also told people how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has persecuted the spiritual practice since July 1999. 

People sign the petition to condemn the persecution.

Shocked by the mistreatment practitioners have suffered for their belief, especially the forced organ harvesting, many people signed the petition urging officials to stop the brutality in China. 

Local resident Merve said she saw Falun Dafa practitioners two years before at an event and signed a petition. Since then she searched for more information online about Falun Dafa and also read Zhuan Falun, the main teaching of the practice. 

Merve was accompanied by her sister and two nieces. They stayed for two hours, and her nieces followed along with the practitioners and learned the exercises the entire time. She and her sisters encouraged the two young girls to finish doing all five sets of exercises.

Merve and her two nieces

Alisha is a student majoring in performing arts. Upon learning about the suppression in China, she immediately signed the petition calling to end the human rights violation. She also asked some friends to sign the petition. 

Alisha signed the petition to condemn the persecution. 

When a practitioner gave a young couple some information about Falun Dafa, the man said he’d previously heard about the persecution. He also explained what was going on to his girlfriend. When the practitioner asked if they would help by signing a petition, both of them replied simultaneously, “Sure!”

A nurse who walked by remarked that she enjoyed the peaceful Falun Dafa exercises. “This is what we need,” she added. After describing the pressure and conflicts she encounters at work, she said that society needs peace. She also asked for details about a nearby group practice site and said she would follow up later.