(Minghui.org) Practitioners held a rally outside the Chinese Embassy in Madrid, Spain’s capital city, on April 24, 2026, to commemorate the 27th anniversary of the appeal in Beijing. They criticized the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for its ongoing persecution of Falun Gong, and called for an immediate end to the human rights abuses.

Practitioners in Spain displayed banners and did the exercises outside the Chinese Embassy in Madrid on April 24, 2026, to commemorate the April 25 appeal.

Passersby signed a petition calling for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong.

Twenty seven years ago, on April 25, 1999, 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners gathered peacefully near the Appeals Office in Beijing. The event was praised by some international media as, “China’s most rational peaceful appeal in history.” The CCP claimed that the practitioners were “besieging Zhongnanhai” (the CCP’s main compound), and used this as an excuse to launch a brutal persecution that continues to this day, resulting in countless practitioners being illegally detained, brutally tortured, and even having their organs removed. Numerous practitioners were killed for upholding Falun Gong’s guiding principles: Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.

People Sign Petition Calling for an End to the Persecution

The activities to commemorate the April 25 appeal was held near the Chinese Embassy, and there was a constant stream of foot traffic and cars. At 10 a.m, practitioners displayed banners with messages such as, “Commemorating the 27th Anniversary of the April 25 Peaceful Appeal,” “Disintegrate the CCP, Stop the Persecution,” “Stop Live Organ Harvesting From Falun Gong Practitioners,” and “Immediately Release Detained Falun Gong Practitioners.” They also demonstrated the five sets of exercises.

Passersby stopped to read the signs and watch practitioners do the exercises. When they learned of the CCP’s brutal persecution, many people signed the petition to support the practitioners’ efforts to end it. Several cars slowed down as they passed by the area, and some drivers honked their horns to express their support or gave practitioners a thumb’s up.

Police officers took photos of the information and spoke with practitioners to learn more about Falun Gong. Speaking in Spanish and Chinese during the rally, practitioners explained why practitioners in China appealed on April 25, 1999. They also described the persecution endured by practitioners in China for the past 27 years.

Mr. Wu, a family member of a Falun Gong practitioner in Xianning City, Hubei Province in China, described how the CCP persecuted his father and family. He called for the immediate release of his father Wu Yuxun, who is illegally detained. His father was previously detained five times, sent to forced labor for two years, and brainwashing classes twice. He was extorted of 4,560 yuan, and his social security payments were withheld because he refused to stop practicing Falun Gong. He was sentenced to three years in prison by the local court on December 8, 2023, and is currently detained in Shayangfanjiatai Prison in Jingmen City, Hubei Province.

“The CCP is Extreme”

One man said, “I’ve lived in communist countries, so I know very well their cunning ways and deceptive policies. I was deeply moved by the information on your display boards and banners. The CCP has become so extreme in trampling on human rights. Persecuting people simply because they practice a form of cultivation based on Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, even taking their organs without consent, this is the cruelest thing I have ever heard. Tens of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners are persecuted simply because of their faith, and they are even subjected to organ harvesting or murdered. These brutal acts cannot be condoned. It is against humanity.”

He also said, “I support such rallies to speak out for all innocent people and those who do not have freedom of belief and speech. Don’t stop doing this—it’s important to let people know what’s happening in China. I will share this information with people in China and my family.”

He took several flyers and intends to give them to friends as well as family to read.

The Regime is Afraid

Mr. Yi Niku lives near the Chinese Embassy. He saw practitioners’ peaceful protests many times in the past and found out more information about the CCP’s brutal persecution online. He said what people know is just the tip of the iceberg.

He said, “There are no basic human rights in China. Falun Gong is one of the most persecuted groups. I think this is terrible. People in Spain know the CCP is a dictatorship, yet they do not realize how severe the problem is.”

He said, “It would be extremely helpful if people stand up to expose and condemn these acts. It would be great if this can help people in China who are suffering. China lacks freedom of speech, so it is very difficult to spread the truth. However, if we do these things it will help more people understand the facts about the persecution. This is what the regime is most afraid of.”

People Condemn the CCP’s Persecution

David Garcia thinks Falun Gong’s principles, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, should be the core values of society.

David Garcia said after learning about the persecution, “The principles of Falun Gong: Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, this should be the core of society. I think through these principles, we can have different perspectives, and try to empathize with others. Empathy is finding your own resonance in others. Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is the cornerstone of a more just, kind, and understanding society. Without these, nothing can be established.”

He said the persecution of Falun Gong is inconceivable. “A group of people practicing a healthy way that seeks to self heal, look within, this makes those in power fearful. This severe persecution itself goes to show how effective Falun Gong is. I have zero tolerance towards injustice. Falun Gong does not harm anyone, yet it is subject to such suppression, therefore it is important to share information about the persecution with friends and family.”

Angélica said that practitioners’ activities are a good way to tell people about the persecution.

Angélica wanted to know more about the persecution after seeing the practitioners’ peaceful protest. She said, “I think it is great that you do this to stop the persecution, because I knew nothing about it. It is terrible, shocking. I want to help by signing the petition.”

She thought it is hard for people to be shocked in this present, complicated society. She said the CCP’s persecution is, “Outrageous. Falun Gong does not harm anyone. On the contrary, it is a kind of spiritual practice that helps improve one’s character. Besides benefiting the individual, it has no bad influence on others.” She said she will read and find out more about the persecution when she returns home, and she will share the information with her friends and family.

Ignacio Gregorio admired practitioners’ peaceful protest outside the embassy.

Mr. Ignacio Gregorio said he respects the practitioners’ activities outside the Chinese Embassy to inform people about the persecution. He thought it was a noble act, an act of justice for Chinese people who are suffering.

He said of the 27 years persecution of Falun Gong, “This is an utterly depraved crime, an act against humanity of the highest level. It must be thoroughly terminated. We cannot allow such suppression to exist, cannot allow the CCP to wantonly sentence and dictate human lives.” He feels that not just Spanish people, but people all over the world should know of the persecution, “Publicize such shocking brutal acts. Only then can we end it once and for all. When I think that such brutalities are happening in this world, it is simply incomprehensible. I am quite shocked. This is unimaginable.” He said he will tell others about the persecution, “We must expose the truth, and thoroughly end all this.”

Ms. Marian Laraudogoitia thought the rally and activities were great, and said she plans to tell her friends and family. She said of the CCP’s persecution, “It’s crazy, barbaric. This is genocide, an atrocity. I thought things like this no longer existed. You should continue spreading the truth, and letting people know about this.”