Greece: Public Condemns 23-year-long Persecution of Falun Dafa at Events in Two Cities

(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners in Greece held an event in downtown Thessaloniki on July 16, 2022 to tell people how the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) has persecuted the spiritual practice for 23 years. They also displayed artworks from the Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance Art Exhibition.

That same day, they held a second event at Piraeus Port in Athens, also to raise awareness of the ongoing persecution.

Falun Dafa practitioners held an event in Thessaloniki on July 16, 2022 to raise awareness of the persecution in China.

Thessaloniki residents and tourists stopped to learn more about Falun Dafa.

With more than 2,300 years of history, Thessaloniki is the second largest economic and cultural center in Greece and a central transportation hub in southeastern Europe. It is also famous for the Thessaloniki International Film Festival, one of the most important culturals events in southeast Europe.

The new town by the sea is modern and neat, with several well known museums and theaters clustered around the city’s symbol, the White Tower, and the statue of Alexander the Great.

As the sun set and the cool evening air enveloped the city, people come out to relax in the square. The calm and soothing Falun Dafa exercise music and the artworks attracted a crowd. People stopped to watch, ask questions, and express their support by calling for an end to the persecution of practitioners in China.

Event at Piraeus Port in Athens

Practitioners demonstrate the Falun Dafa exercises at Piraeus Port in Athens.

The port of Piraeus, known as the “Southern Gate of Europe,” is the largest port in Greece and the second largest port in the Mediterranean Sea.

Practitioners held an activity along the popular commercial street. After reading the display boards and leaflets, many people said the persecution in China must stop.

“Spiritual Pursuit Is Most Important.”

Avran was interested in learning the Falun Dafa exercises.

As practitioners demonstrated the exercises, Avran followed along with their movements. Afterwards, he pointed to Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance on the leaflet and said, “These words are easy to say but very difficult to do.”

Avran explained that he practiced yoga for many years. He said that he believed that spiritual pursuit was most important. “I have tried hard over the years to be honest and keep my promises. I’ve tried to find a balance between following my principles and reality. It’s hard, but trying to do it every day is very good. I was able to achieve inner happiness in the process.”

A few practitioners told him about their cultivation experiences and Falun Dafa’s principles. “The persecution of such a group of good people is unbelievable,” Avran said. 

When practitioners further explained how the CCP has deceived the Chinese people through propaganda put out through its state-owned media, Avran said, “They are creating karma.” He believes that the CCP will have to pay for these sins in the future.

“Many Chinese People Know Falun Gong Is Good.”

Si Yue, a young Greek woman who just graduated from a university in Shanghai with a master’s degree this year, spoke to the practitioners in fluent Chinese. “I know about the persecution. I know Falun Dafa is good,” she said. “I know that many Chinese people know that Falun Gong is good. They just don’t dare to say it.”

“I like traditional Chinese culture, the culture of Buddhism and Taoism, and I like Chinese people very much, even though many bad things are happening in China now,” Si Yue said, adding that the situation in China made her sad.

Practitioners told her that most Chinese are good people but are deceived by the CCP. They said that the destructive nature of the CCP is the real cause of all of the tragedies in China.

Si Yue regretted that Chinese Falun Gong practitioners cannot go back to China. She said, “I hope the persecution will end soon, and you can return to your homeland.”

Si Yue was shocked to hear about the forced organ harvest from practitioners while they are alive. She said she wanted to learn more about it so she could tell more people about the persecution.

“I wish you all the best!” Si Yue told practitioners before she left.

“What Can We Do to Stop the Persecution?”

People sign the petition in support of Falun Gong. 

A Greek girl asked if there were any legal ways to stop the persecution. A practitioner told her that the European Parliament passed a resolution to focus on the live organ harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners. Some countries were discussing a legal ban on organ transplant tourism.

The young woman also asked, “What can we do for you instead of just talking about it?” She said she would tell her friends and family how wonderful Falun Dafa is and about the persecution.

After hearing about the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China, a middle-aged woman was surprised and said that she was completely unaware of such a serious matter. She said she would tell this information to a friend who wants to run in the EU parliamentary elections. “I’m going to tell him about the persecution so that people with some political clout can do something about it.”

Another woman asked if the Chinese Communist Party was committing the crime of persecuting good people. After receiving an affirmative answer, she said, “Communism wants to cut people off from tradition.”

A practitioner replied, “Yes, communism wants to cut people from their cultural roots.” The woman became very interested and asked her companion to come and chat with the practitioner.

Before she left, she thanked practitioners and wished them success in their efforts to expose the persecution.