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Italy: Dignitaries Voice Support During Activities to Expose the Decades-long Persecution in China

July 29, 2024 |   By a Falun Dafa practitioner in Italy

(Minghui.org) From July 19 to 21, 2024, practitioners from across Italy held a three-day series of peaceful activities in the capital, Rome, calling for an end to the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) 25-year persecution of Falun Dafa.

Dignitaries participated in the rally and gave speeches, expressing their admiration for practitioners' perseverence and calling for an end to the persecution. Renowned human rights activists sent letters condemning the persecution and expressing their support for practitioners’ efforts to end the persecution.

The three-day event included a peaceful rally in front of the Chinese Embassy; clarifying the truth about the persecution during an event in the Chinese community; and demonstrating the exercises in Rome’s famous Orange Park.

Peaceful Protest in Front of the Chinese Embassy

Practitioners peacefully rallied in front of the Chinese Embassy in Rome on July 19, 2024, to call for an end to the persecution.

A representative of the Falun Dafa Association of Italy addressed the rally and demanded that the CCP immediately end the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners.

Senator Cinzia Pellegrino, a member of the Senate Human Rights Committee of the Italy Senate and a member of the Brothers of Italy Party, addressed the rally in front of the Chinese Embassy.

Cinzia Pellegrino, a member of the Human Rights Committee of the Italy Senate and member of the European Union Policy Council, and Falun Gong practitioners at the rally in front of the Chinese Embassy

Italian Senator Cinzia Pellegrino said, “I am very proud and honored to participate in today’s rally, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Falun Gong’s Anti-Persecution campaign. You have conveyed to the world an important message from a distant land, that is, the persecution of cultivators there, the harvesting of organs for profit, if not stopped, threatens each and every one of us! We cannot tolerate any form of persecution of human rights and beliefs! We must do what we can to stop this inhumane persecution!”

Elissabetta Zamparutti, a former member of parliament, participated in the rally and said, “Your presence represents hope, the hope of us Italians and the hope of all people in the world.”

Elissabetta Zamparutti, a former member of parliament, talks to Falun Gong practitioners during the rally.

Marco Respinti, chief editor of the human rights journal Bitter Winter, encouraged practitioners

Marco Respinti, founder of the European Center for Renaissance and chief editor of Bitter Winter, sent a letter of support.

Marco Respinti, a veteran journalist and founder of the European Renaissance Center, sent a letter of solidarity. He wrote, “The number of Falun Gong practitioners who have been persecuted to death is huge, and what is even more terrifying is that many of them are victims of the horrific act of live organ harvesting. Today, in the 21st century, it is difficult to imagine that the barbaric practice of live organ harvesting can go unpunished, but unfortunately it is.

“The Beijing regime’s crimes against Falun Gong practitioners have a solid record, which has also promoted important international legislative initiatives, but there is no sign of any change in the CCP authorities.

“Too many governments and countries continue to sign economic, industrial, and political agreements with the Chinese regime with blood on its hands.

“The tragedy of Falun Gong must be remembered by all. Today all people of good will want an immediate end to this massacre. May Falun Gong’s peace day in China come at an early date! “

Demonstrating Exercises at a Famous Roman Park

On the morning of July 20th, practitioners demonstrated the exercises at Orange Garden (Savello Park).

Many people were attracted to the soothing music as practitioners did the exercises and talked to them about Falun Dafa.

Practitioners clarify the truth about the persecution.

Clarifying the Truth about the Persecution to the Chinese Community

On the afternoon of July 20, practitioners placed a large number of banners along the Piazza Vittorio Emanuele (Chinatown in Rome) to clarify the truth about Falun Gong to the Chinese community.

Pietrangelo Massaro, vice president of the Rome City Council, participated in the event and said, “Stop the persecution of Falun Gong!”

Pietrangelo Massaro, vice president of the Rome City Council, came to the event to lend his support and said, “Stop the persecution of Falun Gong! Practitioners have been persecuted by the CCP for 25 years because of their adherence to Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. This is a state-sanctioned form of murder. We can’t ignore this nightmarish truth!”

He added, “However, despite the persecution, Falun Gong practitioners are doing their best to help other Chinese understand the truth about the persecution and recognize the brutal nature of the CCP. Today we are standing here, in the Roman Chinese business district, around this square countless Chinese live and work here, I think this event location is very meaningful! This also proves the kindness and courage of Falun Gong practitioners. “

“The principle of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is the most beautiful value, and we cannot tolerate this kind of persecution. Zero tolerance for persecution! I won’t tolerate it!”

Pietrangelo Massaro, vice president of the Rome City Council, and Falun Gong practitioners at the rally.

Practitioners gathered on July 21, read the Fa and discussed their cultivation experiences.