(Minghui.org) Plovdiv is the second largest city in Bulgaria and the capital of Plovdiv Province. Its renowned for its ancient, diverse culture and history of more than 6,000 years. It is also the oldest known city in Europe.
On October 21, 2023, Falun Dafa practitioners in Bulgaria held an event in Plovdiv to introduce the spiritual practice and raise awareness of the 24-year-long persecution of their fellow practitioners in China.
Practitioners talk to passers-by and collect signatures on petitions in Plovdiv.
Over the course of the four-hour event, they also collected signatures on two petitions. One condemns the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for its numerous human rights abuses, including the persecution of practitioners, while the other calls on Bulgarian authorities to ensure that Bulgarian citizens and institutions do not participate in the CCP’s forced organ harvesting operations.
The event was held before the local elections on October 29, so many candidates stopped by the booth to learn more about the persecution. After realizing the severity of the situation, they expressed their solidarity and support for practitioners’ efforts.
Former Member of Parliament Learns About the Practice
Maya Manolova is a former member of four Bulgarian parliaments and a former national ombudsman. She, along with her staff, listened attentively to a practitioner’s explanation of the situation in China.
All of them took flyers, and Manolova and her public relations staffer said that they would look more into international support for Falun Dafa and human rights protections for practitioners in China.
Maya Manolova (first from left) reads a Falun Dafa flyer.
Candidate: “I will definitely do something about this.”
The candidate for the municipal councilor of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) stopped by the practitioners’ booth. After hearing about the CCP’s brutal treatment of practitioners, he said, “I will definitely do something about this.”
A candidate for municipal councilor from BSP (second from right) learns about Falun Dafa and the CCP’s persecution.
Passers-by Sign the Petitions
Dimka stopped at the stand and immediately signed the petition that condemns the CCP for its human rights abuses. She said that she was aware of the CCP’s atrocity of harvesting organs from living Falun Dafa practitioners and was disgusted. After hearing about Bulgarian practitioners’ initiative to prevent Bulgarians from aiding and abetting in forced organ harvesting, she also signed the petition to the Bulgarian government.
Dimka (right) signs the petitions.
“We live in complicated times, there is a lot of violence, but what is happening in China is incomparable,” said Dimka.
A Couple Signs the Petitions to Support Practitioners
A family approached the information booth. The man said that he brought his wife to sign the petitions, because he signed them himself a while ago. He said that he worked in South Korea and knew about the persecution of Falun Dafa practitioners in China.
A man who worked in South Korea brought his wife to sign the petitions.
He added that the vigils held by Falun Dafa practitioners in South Korea are an impressive and imposing sight. He said that passersby recognize them and express respect and admiration for their silent vigil.
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