(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners recently held rallies and activities in various cities and districts in France to commemorate the past 23 years of brutal persecution in China.

Practitioners held events in Bordeaux, Vieux-Port, and Caen in Northern France’s Normandy region on July 16-24, 2022. They held activities to expose the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) crimes against humanity, including candlelight vigils to mourn those tortured to death. Tourists from around the world signed a petition calling for an end to the atrocities.

Activities Held in Bordeaux

People signed the petition calling for an end to the CCP’s persecution of Falun Dafa during events held at La Garonne river on July 24, 2022.

Practitioners meditate near the La Garonne river in Bordeaux on July 24, 2022.

Practitioners demonstrated the exercises and explained the facts about the persecution to passersby at Le Quai Des Chartrons by the La Garonne river, Bordeaux city on July 24, 2022. They helped people to become aware of the CCP’s brutal suppression of the mind and body practice.

Candlelight Vigil in Vieux-Port

A candlelight vigil was held in Vieux-Port, Marseille opposite the city government building on the evening of July 20 to commemorate practitioners who lost their lives due to the CCP’s persecution.

Vieux-Port is a renowned place in Marseille, and is close to the local government. Many tourists and passersby stopped to read the information.

People sign the petition during events at Vieux-Port on July 20.

Practitioners held a candlelight vigil on July 20 at Vieux-Port to commemorate fellow practitioners who were persecuted to death.

Many passersby signed the petition to support practitioners in their efforts to call for an end to the persecution. Family members on holiday all signed the petition. A mother told practitioners she never buys products made in China because she knows some are made by prisoners of conscience.

A tourist was shocked and said this was the first time he had heard of organ harvesting. He said he only saw such horror scenes in science fiction movies, yet he learned that taking organs by force truly exists. It was inconceivable to him. He said, “We now know reality has surpassed science fiction.” Many people were shocked by the severity of the suppression.

Tourists in the area suddenly increased as practitioners lit candles. They signed the petition and many said they would pray for practitioners.

Rally at Renowned Caen City in Normandy Region

Practitioners did the exercises and told people about the 23-year-long persecution during a day-long event held at Place Saint Sauveur in Caen City from 10 a.m to 6:30 p.m on July 16, 2022.

Practitioners did the exercises at Place Saint Sauveur in Caen City on July 16, 2022.

Sander from the Netherlands said, “Practicing Falun Gong is a basic human right.”

Sander, a tourist from the Netherlands, said he meditates. He explained, “I signed the petition because practicing Falun Gong is a basic human right. I saw you four years ago. Meditation is great, as it helps people calm down.”

“I love the three words – Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance. I think it is beautiful. Truthfulness is what I follow. I try my best to be honest.”

He knew about the genocide of organ harvesting. “This is unbelievable, I feel sad to read these things.”

He added, “One should be free to pursue one’s faith. People have the right to free thoughts.”

People sign the petition to support ending the persecution.

Many people were shocked to hear that the CCP removes organs from incarcerated practitioners and sells them for profit. Many signed the petition as a gesture of support to help end the terrible crimes.

One man, a retired carpenter, said, “I feel ashamed of the Chinese Communist regime.”

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 that 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.