(Minghui.org) “The exercises are very peaceful and beautiful, and they help me appreciate nature in this urban environment,” said physical therapist Christa Krapf Fofana. “I know this energy comes from within. That is why I feel Falun Dafa is very powerful in improving a person’s inner self.” Attracted to the melodious music as practitioners demonstrated the exercises and curious to learn more, Ms. Fofana stopped her bike and chatted with practitioners.
Physical therapist Christa Krapf Fofana
Falun Dafa practitioners held an information day event at Grabenplatz in Winterthur, Switzerland, on August 28, 2021. Located 12 miles northeast of Zurich, Winterthur is the 6th largest city in Switzerland.
Several passersby stopped by the practitioners’ booth and said they liked the exercises and wanted to know more about Falun Dafa and the persecution. Many people signed the petition calling for an end to the CCP’s (Chinese Communist Party) 22-year-long persecution against the spiritual practice in China.
Practitioners demonstrate the exercises at Grabenplatz in Winterthur, Switzerland, on August 28, 2021
Practitioners continued to demonstrate the exercises and talk to people despite the intermittent rain.
The Courage to Speak up
Ms. Fofana was surprised that the persecution has gone on since July 1999. She said, “The brutality, especially forced organ harvesting, is almost unimaginable. This tragedy has trampled on human dignity and violated human rights,” she said. “In addition, the atrocities not only harm practitioners, but also affect their families and people connected with themselves. The persecution will harm the entire world and entire generations.”
She thanked practitioners for telling people the facts and raising awareness. “People need to know this and say something about it,” she continued, adding that she would also pass on such information to others.
Filmmaker: History Shows Communism Should Not Exist
Despite a sudden thunderstorm, a continuous stream of people stopped by the booth. They talked with practitioners, read the materials, and signed the petition. Some later returned with their friends so that they could also sign the petition. Others asked where they could learn the exercises.
A sudden thunderstorm did not stop people from wishing to learn more about Falun Dafa and the persecution.
Several people signed the petition to end the persecution.
“Such human rights violations are too barbaric!” exclaimed a filmmaker as he signed the petition. He said, “Everyone should oppose the persecution, both the concentration camp-style detention and the organ harvesting. We must stop these crimes.”
He said freedom of belief should be respected. “No political parties or regimes can take this away from people. “In the past 80 years, we have seen the true nature of the CCP and history shows communism should not exist in the first place,” he explained.
“The World Needs People Like You”
Carpenter Philipp Villanyi has received Falun Dafa materials in the past, so he knew about the persecution in China. “But I did not know this tragedy still continues and has gotten so bad! The CCP is like modern day Nazis,” he said. After signing the petition, he thanked practitioners for their efforts. “The world needs people like you,” he explained, “I hope people will open their minds and listen to what you say.”
Iris and Stephen also knew about the persecution. They both signed the petition and hope the tragedies will end soon. They also hope more people will pay attention to this important matter.
Mirjam Bouchama works as a preschool caretaker. She and her friend Leanie Gerig, who works for a newspaper, both heard about Falun Dafa for the first time. “Watching practitioners do the exercises makes me feel very happy and calm,” she said, “The practitioners are very dedicated.”
They had a hard time understanding why the CCP persecutes Falun Dafa. “Practitioners just want to be good and healthier people, but they have been treated so badly,” Bouchama said, “This persecution is too vicious and it must stop.” Both of them signed the petition.
As the event concluded, it started to rain again. The owner of a nearby store hurried over and talked with a practitioner for a long time. As she signed the petition, she explained that she had received Falun Dafa materials before and wanted to help bring the persecution to an end.
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