(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners gathered at the Chinese Embassy in Lisbon, Portugal, and peacefully protested against the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) 23-year-long persecution of Falun Dafa.

Falun Dafa practitioners gather to inform people about the persecution in front of the Chinese Embassy in Portugal.

Local: Justice Will Prevail

During the gathering, both policemen and passersby said they were well aware of the CCP’s persecution of Falun Dafa. “This persecution is absolutely absurd and must end immediately,” exclaimed one passerby.

Others sympathized with the persecuted practitioners in China and also admired overseas’ practitioners’ persistence to bring the persecution to an end. “I support you! Justice will prevail,” one person said.

New Practitioner: “I Have Obtained a Brand New Life After Cultivating Falun Dafa”

Maryam Shahi was once a journalist for a European media company who worked in Afghanistan; she experienced the horrors of war firsthand. Ever since her time in the line of fire, life has been difficult for her. To compound her stress, when the COVID pandemic arrived, she had flu-like symptoms for three months.

Amidst her despair, Maryam came across Falun Dafa online, “I was so excited and was unable to fall asleep after reading Zhuan Falun during the first night. My soul was cleansed and the suffering and desperation from deep within my heart have all vanished. A new door has opened up for me after reaching a dead end. I feel very fortunate.”

After Maryam was transferred to Portugal, she quickly got involved in local truth-clarification activities. Maryam has a message from deep down in her heart, “Stop the persecution of Falun Dafa. Falun Dafa is good!”

Practitioner Recounts Her Persecution

Ms. Guo Kang, a Falun Dafa practitioner, was persecuted for her faith in China. She recollected, “I was sent to work in a bank when I was in my twenties. I faced many obstacles while at work and when I encountered Falun Dafa, I found the strength to be more compassionate. I began abiding by the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance to become a better person. When the CCP launched the nationwide persecution of Falun Dafa, I was placed under house arrest and suspended from my job. My supervisors said they’d fire me if I didn’t give up my belief in Falun Dafa. Both my family and I were stressed and I lost my job.”

The 610 Office, which directed the persecution, began searching for Falun Dafa practitioners. “I was illegally arrested and brutally beaten. I was sent to a labor camp for two years in 2011.”

Ms. Guo went on to say, “Amid the 23-year-long persecution, I would like to tell everyone that Falun Dafa is good. Cultivating Falun Dafa elevates one’s moral standards. It also benefits one’s physical health and society. It is not right for Falun Dafa practitioners to endure this suffering because they abide by the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. The CCP must end the persecution of Falun Dafa.”