(Minghui.org) Practitioners in Vienna, the capital of Austria, held two separate activities to call for an end to the persecution in China. The events were held prior to Human Rights Day, which falls on December 10, 2022.

A vigil was held in front of the Chinese Embassy in Vienna on December 7, 2022. Practitioners commemorated those who lost their lives due to persecution in China for upholding their belief, and collected signatures to help end the CCP’s persecution.

Practitioners then set up an information booth the next day at Mariahilfer Straße, a popular shopping street in Vienna. Many passersby expressed their support for Falun Dafa and signed the petition to help end the persecution. Two members of Austria’s National Council also sent letters to condemn the CCP’s persecution.

Vigil in Front of the Chinese Embassy

On the evening of December 7, despite the bitterly cold weather, practitioners held a vigil to raise awareness of the ongoing persecution in China. A practitioner spoke and summarized the horrendous crimes and atrocities that the CCP has committed since the persecution began on July 20, 1999. A practitioner described how she was abused, sentenced and imprisoned. She said that many practitioners are still imprisoned in China’s labor camps and prisons.

Practitioners did the exercises and held a vigil in front of the Chinese embassy.

Two members of the Austria’s National Council sent letters of support.

Councilor Faika-El-Nagashi put forth her respect for human rights, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and freedom of religion on Human Rights Day. She also said that a democratic and pluralistic society should pay attention to human dignity.

Councilor Gudrun Kugler said, “Reports of torture, humiliation, slavery, and forced live organ harvesting have increased in recent years. In particular, China’s development in recent months requires us to stay alert. The crimes against Falun Dafa practitioners are serious and are a systematic violation of human rights.”

Practitioners submitted petitions to the Austrian government regarding the crimes of torture and live organ harvesting.

Spreading The Truth of Falun Dafa in the City Center

Mariahilfer Straße is a popular area in Vienna, and is lined with cafes and shops. With Christmas around the corner the area was busier than usual, and many passersby noticed practitioners’ booth and stopped to read the information.

Practitioners demonstrated the exercises and handed out lotus flowers and leaflets about the persecution. People read about the persecution and forced live organ harvesting, and some talked with practitioners. They were shocked to learn about CCP’s crimes and many people signed the petition to end the persecution.

People signed the petition calling for an end to the persecution

Practitioners demonstrate the exercises.

Practitioners display information about Falun Dafa and how it is persecuted in China.

Tibetan refugees learn about Falun Dafa.

Practitioners displayed truth-clarification poster boards with information about the persecution. Many people stopped to read and asked for more details about the persecution.

Four Tibetan refugees who just obtained Austrian citizenship expressed their support for practitioners. They were touched when they learned that the practitioners’ petition mentions that Tibetans are also persecuted in China. Practitioners gave them paper lotuses and wished them all the best.

Background: What Is Falun Dafa and Why Is the CCP Persecuting It?

Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong) was first introduced to the public by Mr. Li Hongzhi in Changchun, China, in 1992. The spiritual discipline is now practiced in over 100 countries and regions worldwide. Millions of people who have embraced the teachings, which are based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, and have learned the five exercises, have experienced improved health and well-being.

Jiang Zemin, former head of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), perceived the spiritual discipline’s growing popularity as a threat to the CCP’s atheistic ideology and on July 20, 1999, he issued an order to eradicate the practice.

Under Jiang’s personal direction, the CCP established the 610 Office, an extralegal security organization with the power to override the police and judicial systems and whose sole function is to carry out the persecution of Falun Dafa.

Minghui.org has confirmed the deaths of thousands of practitioners as a result of the persecution over the past 23 years. The actual number is believed to be much higher. Countless practitioners have been imprisoned and tortured for their faith.

There is concrete evidence that the CCP sanctions the harvesting of organs from detained practitioners, who are murdered to supply China’s organ transplant industry.