Budapest, Hungary: “This Is Not History, This Is Happening Now!”

(Minghui.org) Practitioners set up an information booth in front of St. Stephen’s Basilica, one of Budapest’s most popular and important monument buildings, on July 20, 2024 to raise awareness of the 25 years of persecution of Falun Dafa in China.

Practitioners demonstrated the five exercises at the booth, exposed the brutality of the persecution through posters and speeches, and collected signatures on a petition to stop the persecution. In the evening, practitioners held a candlelight vigil to commemorate fellow practitioners who have died in the persecution by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Practitioners held activities in front of St. Stephen’s Basilica on July 20, 2024 to raise awareness of the 25 years of persecution of Falun Dafa.

Many passersby praised the practitioners’ efforts and expressed their support either verbally or by signing the petition. Many people took photos, read the informational posters, and listened to the speeches. People expressed their appreciation for the principles of Falun Dafa, and said they hope that this evil persecution will end soon.

Practitioners set up an information booth in front of St. Stephen’s Basilica every weekend, a place that many foreign and local tourists visit in the heart of the capital. Residents and tourists stop to read the information desk and talk with practitioners. Some take photos, some want to know more about Falun Dafa, and some want to learn the exercises. Their booth has become a local fixture.

People sign a petition calling for an end to the persecution.

President of Hungarian Falun Dafa Association: This is not history, this is happening now!

Dr. Eszter Fricskó, President of the Hungarian Falun Dafa Association, gave a speech at the event explaining the history of the persecution and why practitioners continue to speak out against it.

He said that Falun Dafa was the most popular practice in China 20 years ago as it is closely linked to Chinese tradition and belongs to the Buddhist system. It teaches Truthfulness, Compassion and Tolerance. It is not only a physical exercise, but also improves one’s morals and attitude towards others. It is completely peaceful and has absolutely no political aspirations, but the biggest threat to the bloody Chinese Communist regime is precisely that they could lose their ideological hold over the Chinese people.

On July 20, 1999, a nationwide campaign was launched to abolish the practice completely. A campaign of persecution was spread, using lies and fabrications to mobilize people against Falun Dafa. The CCP incited hatred and divided the people. Those who do not want to give up the practice are detained and either tortured to death or subjected to forced organ removal.

“In Communist China, the most numerous sources of organ transplants are not voluntary donors, but prisoners of conscience!” Dr. Fricskó said in his speech at the event, “This is not history, it is happening now! Today marks 25 years of persecution in China! In front of St. Stephen’s Basilica in Budapest, we commemorate our deceased fellow practitioners.”

Practitioners held a candlelight vigil in front of Stephen’s Basilica on the evening of July 20, 2024.

Students Support Practitioners’ Efforts to End the Persecution

Three young students signed the petition after talking with a practitioner and learning about Falun Dafa, the facts about the persecution, and the forced organ harvesting.

“We see that practitioners are different, they handle things honestly according to the principle of truthfulness,” one student said.

“We really support you, don’t give up under any circumstances,” another student said.

A Second Encounter With Falun Dafa

A middle-aged woman came straight to the desk to sign the petition. After talking for a while about Falun Dafa and the CCP’s persecution, she told the practitioner that she started practicing Falun Dafa three or four years ago but then stopped.

“Now I am very happy to see you here, because I feel something is telling me that I have to start practicing again,” she said.