(Minghui.org) On April 26, 2026, a Slovak store manager signed a petition in Rybné Square in Bratislava.
“Such [peaceful] protests are justified, people are fighting for their rights. It is something that has a long tradition,” she said.
The protest she spoke of was the April 25 Appeal by Falun Dafa practitioners in 1999. To commemorate the bravery and kindness of their fellow practitioners in China, practitioners around the world pay homage to this event each year by hosting peaceful protests around the date of April 25. This year, Slovak practitioners held two events in Bratislava: the first outside the Chinese Embassy on April 23, and the second on Rybné Square on April 26.
On April 23, 2026, Falun Dafa practitioners held an event in front of the Chinese Embassy in Bratislava to commemorate the April 25 Appeal.
Event Organizer: April 25 Is an Inspiration to All
In his speech on April 23 outside the Chinese Embassy, Marek Tatarko, chairman of the Slovak Falun Dafa Association, described the peaceful appeal and what the practitioners were asking for.
On April 23, 2026, Marek Tatarko, chairman of the Slovak Falun Dafa Association, gave a speech at an event commemorating the April 25 Appeal of 1999.
“On the morning of April 25, 1999, more than 10,000 Falun Dafa practitioners began to assemble in an orderly manner in front of the National Appeals Office in Beijing, near Zhongnanhai, the central compound of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). They called for the restoration of an open environment for practicing Falun Dafa, which they had enjoyed for many years, and also requested the release of dozens of practitioners who had been arrested shortly before in the nearby city of Tianjin.
“The practitioners were orderly and cleaned up the area before leaving, even picking up litter from the ground. This was later described as ‘the largest and most rational appeal’ since the CCP came to power. However, the CCP’s distorted logic, unable to accept the popularity of Falun Dafa, later falsely portrayed this peaceful gathering as a ‘siege of the central government leadership (Zhongnanhai).’ State media then launched a full-scale propaganda campaign condemning the event, deceiving not only people in China but also abroad.
“Today we commemorate this event as it truly occurred: a peaceful assembly in the face of a brutal totalitarian regime, which could have been a catalyst for a change in the Chinese Communist leadership’s attitude toward Falun Dafa. However, the regime did not accept this positive signal, and launched three months later a nationwide persecution of Falun Dafa.”
He concluded by saying that for him personally, the message of April 25 is important because “people with kindness in their hearts pointed out wrongdoing, which can be a great inspiration and example for all of us to follow.”
Passersby: Practitioners Had “Right” to Appeal on April 25
Three days later, on Sunday afternoon, April 26, an information and petition event was held at Rybné Square in Bratislava, where people could find out about the persecution of Falun Dafa. They also had the opportunity to see Falun Dafa exercises and sign a petition calling for an end to the persecution. Many expressed their views on the peaceful April 25 appeal in Beijing after signing the petition.
Ms. North from the Netherlands, who works in accounting, said after signing the petition, “I believe everyone should have equal rights, and I think we should stand up for one another.” She added, “It’s good that you are doing this.”
Regarding the peaceful April 25 Appeal in Beijing, she said, “People had the right to do it. Under a dictatorial regime, however, it is complicated.”
Accompanying Ms. North was Ms. Feide, who was also from the Netherlands. She added, “We have never heard about this persecution. I think if more people learn about it, it could help.” She concluded, “I think one day we will win.”
Ms. Mathia, an Erasmus student from Montenegro, said after signing the petition, “This petition supports a good cause.” Mathia supports people fighting for their rights and believes people should remain true to themselves.
American Tourists: People Should Not Be Persecuted for Their Faith
Other passersby heard about Falun Dafa for the first time at the event, and found that it promotes many of the same values they believe in.
Mrs. Nela wanted to help the persecuted practitioners by signing the petition. Regarding Falun Dafa's principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, she said, “We need them like salt. Especially truthfulness and compassion.” She wished for those being persecuted that the situation would one day improve, that the oppression would end,, that they would have freedom of expression, and that no one would restrict them.
Mrs. Michaligová also resonated with Falun Dafa's values, saying that “Life is easier when people tell the truth. Lies only lead to problems.” She supported the practitioners in China who are facing persecution for believing in these values by signing the petition, and said, “We are supporting you.”
Seam, an IT engineer from the United States, signed the petition because he disagrees with people infringing on other's freedom.
“China has one of the oldest civilizations in the world. They have given us many things, and this is one of them. People should not be persecuted for it. We need to support these things. It can improve people’s lives. Today many people suffer from depression and similar issues; this could help them. I think what you are doing is important,” he said.
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Category: April 25 Events
