Geneva, Switzerland: Legislators Sign Petition During Event to Commemorate April 25 Appeal

(Minghui.org) Legislators and city councilors came to show their support in Geneva and sign a petition to end the persecution of Falun Dafa during an event on April 25, 2023, to mark the 24th anniversary of the April 25 Appeal in Beijing.

Falun Dafa practitioners held their event in the lower arcade hall of a seventeenth century building in Geneva’s Old Town. They demonstrated the exercises and told people about the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution. Several elected officials attended and expressed their support for practitioners’ efforts to expose the persecution. 

The seventeenth-century building faces the Grand Council of Geneva, where Geneva Canton legislators and city councilors often hold meetings. This area is frequented by government officials.

Practitioners demonstrate the Falun Dafa exercises during an event in Geneva’s Old Town on April 25, 2023.People learn about Falun Dafa and the persecution. Geneva City Councilor Daniel Dany Pastore

Geneva City Councilor Daniel Dany Pastore signed a petition to support practitioners’ efforts against the CCP’s persecution. He said, “Fortunately, there are some people like you who play an important role in the world. This can improve the living conditions of human beings in various fields. Fortunately, you exist, because some vile and shameless behaviors are happening in the world, and it is time for everyone to respond. International Geneva has put itself in the right place, and provides a great example [to other countries]. Thank you!”

François Lefort, Vice President of the Grand Council of Geneva

François Lefort, Vice President of the Grand Council of Geneva, also attended and signed the petition. He has been supporting Falun Dafa practitioners in their efforts to expose the persecution for many years. He said that the practitioners’ display was wonderful. He also took a photo with them, and said that he would publish it on his social network sites. He said, “The CCP doesn’t like me. I want to tell them clearly: ‘I am with practitioners, and I support you!’” 

Marjorie de Chastonay, Member of the General Council of Geneva, signs the petition.

Marjorie de Chastonay, member of the General Council of Geneva, said, “It is important that I come here to [show my] support. I support you from the bottom of my heart. This is really fundamental. I can’t miss it. For me, it is also my most basic [responsibility], and I will always be here to support you. [When you need my help] don’t hesitate.” 

Danielle Magnin, member of the Grand Council of Geneva, signs the petition. 

Danielle Magnin and André Pfeffer, members of the Grand Council of Geneva, also signed the petition to show their support.

Background: What Is Falun Dafa and Why Is the CCP Persecuting It?

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 and regions worldwide. Millions of people who have embraced the teachings, which are based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, and have learned the five exercises, have experienced improved health and well-being.

Jiang Zemin, former head of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), perceived the spiritual discipline’s growing popularity as a threat to the CCP’s atheistic ideology and on July 20, 1999, he issued an order to eradicate the practice.

Under Jiang’s personal direction, the CCP established the 610 Office, an extralegal security organization with the power to override the police and judicial systems and whose sole function is to carry out the persecution of Falun Dafa.

Minghui.org has confirmed the deaths of thousands of practitioners as a result of the persecution over the past 23 years, though due to the difficulty in getting information out of China, the actual number is believed to be much higher. Countless practitioners 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 China’s organ transplant industry.