Belgium: People in Antwerp Learn About Falun Gong and Condemn the Persecution

(Minghui.org) Falun Gong practitioners held activities to introduce the spiritual practice to the public on Meir, a busy commercial street in Antwerp, Belgium, on April 12, 2025. They demonstrated the exercises, distributed fliers, and talked to people about the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) 26-year persecution of Falun Gong in China. Their information table under a yellow tent offered materials about the practice in different languages.

Belgians and tourists from different countries expressed concern about the CCP’s persecution, and complimented the practitioners on their tenacity and peaceful efforts. People said that the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance were admirable.

Falun Gong practitioners tell people about the spiritual practice on a busy shopping street in Antwerp.

Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance are the Values We Need Most

The event caught the attention of Nicolas, who lived nearby. He is a military veteran who participated in missions in Afghanistan and elsewhere and now works as a security consultant for the port. He said that he was under intense pressure and had headaches. The long-term shadow of war had made him want to seek peace of mind.

After chatting in-depth with a practitioner, he expressed his admiration for practitioners and signed a petition calling for an end to the persecution. “This is the first time I have ever seen such an event. You should tell more people so that everyone knows what is happening in China,” he said.

Military veteran Nicolas

As he watched the exercise demonstration, Nicholas said, “I like this practice. I am a veteran and have experienced too much stress. Maybe practicing Falun Gong will help me.”

After he learned about the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong, he was stunned and incredulous. “That is very strange. People are getting better physically and mentally, and their thoughts are becoming more positive, so why ban it? Their principles are Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance—what’s wrong with that? Why do they stop people from being good?”

Nicholas said that the CCP is afraid of people having the ability to think independently, because that kind of free spiritual power is what the CCP really fears. “The Communist Party wants to control thoughts, not because Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance are wrong, but because people may begin to think for themselves and question the CCP.”

Talking about the anxiety and indifference in the world today, Nicholas said, “People nowadays have no patience and no tolerance. Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance are what our society lacks the most. I will try to do something that is beneficial to others. I like what you do, which is to let people know the truth.”

We Cannot Be Silent

Natalie, who is one-quarter Chinese, and her daughter Tyrallie were drawn by the practitioners’ exercise demonstration, and talked with them for a long time. After signing the petition protesting the persecution, Natalie said that she had known about the suppression of and injustices suffered by Falun Gong practitioners in China for a long time.

“We have signed the petition before to help stop the persecution,” she said. “I am particularly worried about the CCP’s forced organ harvesting from living people. It is so cruel and completely beyond the bottom line of humanity. This persecution has lasted for 25 years. We can no longer remain silent,” she said.

Natalie (middle) and daughter Tyrallie (left) express concern about the persecution.

Tyrallie said, “Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance are not only Falun Gong practitioners’ principles, they are also the core values that our society urgently needs to return to.”

“People today lack tolerance and empathy, and compassion is a quality that each of us should practice,” Tyrallie said. “I am a caregiver, and I try to convey kindness every day, but it is not easy to awaken others. Truthfulness to me means being honest and upright. Forbearance means choosing tolerance and peace despite pressure and conflict. We need more people to understand how precious these principles are.”

As Chinese descendants, mother and daughter noted that China’s traditional culture is very profound, but the CCP has distorted it and many people have been misled.

They took photos of Falun Gong books and said they would read them to learn more about the practice. “We will share this information on social media so more people will know what’s happening,” Natalie said. “After so many years, you have never given up. This spirit deserves respect and reminds us to speak up for justice.”

This is a Powerful Practice

After Layla and Sophia watched the exercise demonstration, they talked with practitioners and showed great interest in Falun Gong. “I really like this exercise. I think it is very positive,” Layla said. “People should have the right to meditate and practice anywhere, and should not be persecuted by the CCP.”

Layla (left) and Sophia (right) are interested in Falun Gong.

Sophia said she was touched to see the practitioners’ peaceful exercise demonstration. She said the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance were powerful and worthy of respect.

People sign the petition calling for an end to the persecution.

Condemning the CCP’s Forced Organ Harvesting

Tourist Kim

Kim and her friend Jonathan, two young tourists from Israel, heard about the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong for the first time, including the CCP-sanctioned forced organ harvesting, at the event. She was shocked. When she learned more about the CCP’s involvement in live organ harvesting, she was silent for a moment, with disbelief in her eyes, and said, “This is so unfortunate and so cruel.”

She said, “Live organ harvesting? I think this is so tragic and very, very sad. I didn’t know such a thing actually existed.” She admitted that although she had heard of similar crimes, she didn’t realize that the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners was so brutal.

Mr. Willy learns about Falun Gong.

Mr. Willy, a retired teacher, was appalled upon hearing about the CCP’s organ harvesting during a conversation with a practitioner. “I thought it was a thing of the past. If it is still happening, that’s really terrible,” he said.

He was concerned that these organs might flow to some wealthy countries, and said, “This is not just a problem of persecution, but also of moral decline. I thought China was a very wealthy country, but now I find out that they actually make a tidy profit by doing this.”

Talking about the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, he expressed his agreement, and said, “I think you are very kind. If everyone could be like this, the world would be a better place.” He said that the principles of Falun Gong were admirable, and he hoped that everyone could enjoy freedom of belief.