(Minghui.org) Practitioners from more than 10 European countries demonstrated the exercises at Stephansplatz, Vienna, on the evening of August 29, 2025 to introduce Falun Gong (Falun Dafa). That night, they held a candlelight vigil to commemorate practitioners who lost their lives during the 26-year-long persecution.
St. Stephen’s Cathedral, which towers over Stephansplatz square, is a must-see destination for tourists. It is also a popular spot where locals gather and is even busy at night. People who passed by the square listened intently to speeches given by practitioners to learn about the persecution in China; some took fliers and asked questions; others looked at photos which showed various peaceful activities held over the past 26 years to expose the brutalities; some came to the eye-catching blue marquee to pick up more materials. People signed the petition that calls on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to stop persecuting Falun Gong and harvesting organs from them.
Practitioners demonstrated the exercises at Stephansplatz, Vienna, on August 29, 2025.
Practitioners held a candlelight vigil to remember those who lost their lives during the 26-year-long persecution.
A practitioner gave a speech during the candlelight vigil, telling people the benefits of the practice and describing the CCP’s brutal persecution.
People spoke to practitioners to find out more about the persecution.
This Persecution Should Not Have Happened
“I think they [Falun Gong practitioners] are peaceful and have a positive impact on people,” said Lenka Oberauer, a teacher, as she and her husband, Markus, watched their five-and-a-half-year-old son Maxi follow along as practitioners did the exercises. They received two tiny lotus flowers with the message: “Falun Dafa is great,” “Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance Is Great.” Even though this was the first time she heard of Falun Dafa, Lenka thought practitioners were “full of love, meditating tranquilly. I love it.” Little Maxi also wanted to tell everyone he wants to learn the exercises because he thought the practice was “wonderful” and he felt “great” after trying the exercises.
Lenka and her husband learned that Falun Dafa teaches people to conduct themselves according to Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. They agreed with the principles and said these are “Excellent, peaceful, and have a positive impact.” Lenka said, “Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance are values everyone of us should pay attention to; all governments that oppose Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance are terrible.”
They cannot understand why the CCP is persecuting Falun Gong practitioners and even taking their organs without consent. Lenka’s husband said, “This persecution is horrifying; it should not have happened at all.” They also signed the petition and said, “We hope you collect enough signatures and succeed in your endeavors.” Lenka said, “I hope my signature makes a difference. Through many signatures, the crime of organ harvesting can be stopped, and people are able to lead a better life.”
People Sign the Petition
People sign the petition to end the persecution.
Carina Müller, a psychotherapist, and Marcel Müller, an entrepreneur, stopped and watched the practitioners’ candlelight vigil. They listened to the speech given by a practitioner and then went to the booth to sign the petition.
Marcel said, “The persecution in China is not good for people. It is a terrible thing, a crime. Of course, we should sign the petition to stop the atrocities.” By signing the petition, he hopes to “Offer support and stop the terrible actions in China.”
Carina said, “This [organ harvesting] is so brutal and horrifying. It is contempt for humanity and life, and tramples on people’s dignity. No one has the right to take away other people’s organs; everyone has the right to decide what happens to their body.”
Although it was the first time she heard of Falun Gong, she saw it as, “A form of meditation. A person meditating, focusing on the present, and attempting to practice proper virtues in life through some means.” Especially since Falun Gong teaches people to follow Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, Carina said, “It is wonderful! Excellent virtues, meaningful for everyone.” Marcel shared the same opinion, “These are the most challenging virtues, to live by these principles, maybe one can only do so through some form of meditation, otherwise it cannot be achieved.”
They cannot understand why the CCP is persecuting Falun Gong practitioners. Carina said, “Because people decided to practice Falun Gong or join the group, politicians say too many people are practicing this. It is dangerous to us; therefore, we must suppress them. To Austrians this is unreasonable.”
She said Falun Gong practitioners should not be subject to any form of punishment, especially such brutal crimes as organ harvesting, because no one should have their organs taken just because they choose to practice meditation.” “It goes to show that China (CCP) is an autocratic country.”
Hafsa Janndi, a young musician, said, “It is such a shame that this persecution is taking place, and it has already gone on for 26 years. I never heard of it, but fortunately, now that I am aware of this, people here can help.” She signed the petition as well and hopes, “All this [the CCP’s persecution and organ harvesting] stops. I hope they collect enough signatures, we can truly bring change, and let all this come to an end. It is intolerable and inhumane.”
I Cannot Understand How the Police in China Can Persecute People
Alessandro Amici, an Italian police officer who was on vacation in Vienna with his family, said, “We didn’t know about organ harvesting, so we thought it was crazy when we first heard of it. This must be stopped, so we signed the petition.” The entire family signed the petition to call for an end to organ harvesting.
As a policeman, Alessandro said his duties are “To protect the people.” He said, “I cannot understand how the police in China can treat Falun Gong practitioners like this.” He thought for a moment and continued, “Such things are unreasonable to Europeans.
“I hope many people sign the petition and it has an impact.” He also said, “It's important to let people know about this. It's important there is a place like this where people get to know everything.”
The Importance of Letting More People Know the Truth
For 26 years, Falun Gong practitioners have been telling people about the persecution through various peaceful activities. Carina and Marcel said, “This is admirable! It’s important, please keep it up.” They planned to let more friends know about the persecution because “It is important. We heard of this for the first time today, so we think it's important to discuss this topic with more people. This is about lives and those innocent people [Falun Gong practitioners]. They did not do anything wrong, yet they were suppressed; therefore, this is so important.”
Julia Batsuk, an artist from Ukraine living in the Netherlands, spoke to several practitioners. She also recorded the exercise demonstrations and activities. She intends to put these recordings on her social media platform to let more people know about the persecution. “I know about organ harvesting. It’s terrible, and of course, it must be stopped. Such things should not happen in this world. It's great that you came here to inform people of this because they cannot see this information in the media.”
She thought more people need to know about the persecution, “Because it can save lives, not only Chinese citizens but people from all parts of the world.”
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