(Minghui.org) To commemorate the 27th anniversary of the April 25 appeal in Beijing, Falun Gong practitioners in various parts of Italy held activities in several cities around April 25, 2026.
On April 25, 1999, more than 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners went to the State Appeals Office in Beijing to ask for freedom of belief and restoration of a legal environment to practice Falun Gong, as well as to seek justice after more than 40 practitioners were illegally arrested in Tianjin.
This year, practitioners held activities in several historic cities in Italy, including Rome, Florence, Genoa, Vicenza, and Naples on April 18 and April 25, 2026. Their objectives were to commemorate the 1999 Beijing appeal and to introduce the spiritual practice of Falun Gong to more people.
Rome: Raising Awareness of the Ongoing Persecution in China
Practitioners in Rome set up an information booth in Piazza Trilussa in the neighborhood of Trastevere on April 25. This is the busiest part of the city, frequented by tourists as well as local residents.
Practitioners in Rome at an information booth on Piazza Trilussa in Trastevere, on April 25, 2026.
Several tourists from the United States told practitioners they already knew a lot about the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution because they live in Washington, D.C., near the Chinese Embassy. They said that for many years, practitioners have held activities at the Chinese Embassy, peacefully protesting the CCP’s human rights abuses. The American tourists were delighted to see practitioners holding similar activities in Italy and thanked them for their efforts to end the persecution.
A local resident decided to sign the petition calling for an end to the human rights abuses after learning that organs are forcibly removed from Falun Gong practitioners imprisoned in China. He hopes that the international community will step up to help stop these tragedies.
Several young people on vacation in Rome were angry to learn of the persecution and were moved by practitioners’ peaceful appeal. They said they could not believe that something like this persecution could be happening today. They thanked practitioners for raising awareness, and said they hoped that the atrocities will end soon.
On April 25, practitioners in Genoa in Northern Italy, and in Naples in Southern Italy held similar activities. A constant stream of passersby were drawn to the practitioners’ exercise demonstrations and informational displays. Many people stopped to talk to practitioners and expressed great concern as well as support for victims of the persecution.
Practitioners held activities in Genoa to commemorate the 27th anniversary of the April 25 appeal in Beijing.
Several people stopped and talked for a long time, asked questions, and read the information about Falun Dafa. Many showed great interest in the spiritual practice and asked where they could learn the exercises. Quite a few passersby also signed the petition calling for an immediate end to the persecution.
Practitioners demonstrate the exercises and display information in Naples to commemorate the appeal in Beijing in 1999.
People in Vicenza Sign the Petition After Learning About the Persecution
On Saturday, April 18, practitioners from the Veneto region held activities in Vicenza to mark the 27th anniversary of the Beijing appeal.
Vicenza is the capital of Vicenza Province in Italy’s Veneto region, and is approximately 60 kilometers (37 miles) west of Venice. The city is thriving and cosmopolitan, with a rich history and culture. There are many museums, art galleries, churches, and piazzas, as well as Renaissance-style houses.
Many people learned about the ongoing persecution of Falun Gong in China through the practitioners’ activities. They signed the petition to call for an end to the human rights abuses and to the organ harvesting.
A young man from China stopped in front of the practitioners’ booth. He said he knew a lot about Falun Gong and the history of the CCP’s persecution, and expressed deep admiration for practitioners’ efforts to raise awareness. He said he totally supports their actions.
People stop at the information booth in Vicenza to learn about Falun Gong and sign the petition calling for an end to the persecution.
Introducing the Benefits of the Practice at a Florence Flower Show
Practitioners in Florence, Valdarno, and Prato were invited to take part in the spring flower exhibition held in Giardino dell’Orticoltura in Florence on Saturday, April 25, 2026. This is a traditional exhibition with a history of more than 170 years, which continues to be extremely popular today. Practitioners demonstrated the Falun Gong exercises in the beautiful garden, and many people stopped by to learn the movements.
Practitioners introduce Falun Gong at the annual flower show in Florence on April 25, 2026.
Practitioners handed out materials and told people about the ongoing persecution in China. They also talked about the large-scale appeal of April 25, 1999, and how that event was part of the lead up to the systematic persecution by the CCP. Many people were not aware of this history.
The activities were a great opportunity to let people know the benefits of practicing Falun Gong. Practitioners told people about the positive changes they experienced through improving their character and following the principles of the practice—Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. Many young people said they admired practitioners for their efforts to inform people about the persecution. Several people asked if there were local practice sites, hoping to learn the exercises. Two middle-aged women were full of joy and gratitude after trying the exercises for around 10 minutes.
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Category: April 25 Events
