Frankfurt, Germany: Member of European Parliament Expresses Support During Rally to Protest the Chinese Regime’s Persecution of Falun Gong

(Minghui.org) Falun Gong practitioners held a rally in Frankfurt, Germany on July 19, 2025, to peacefully protest the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) 26-year-long persecution. They also called for the disintegration of the CCP. Michael Gahler, Member of European Parliament (MEP), and Wu Manyang, a China expert, were present to express their support. Some practitioners described their experiences of being persecuted by the CCP in China.

Practitioners held activities on Goetheplatz in Frankfurt, Germany on July 19, 2025.

Falun Gong practitioners from Frankfurt and surrounding areas drew the attention of passersby at the Goetheplatz in the city center. Some stopped to watch the practitioners’ exercise demonstration, while others listened to the speeches at the rally, or talked with practitioners. They wanted to know what Falun Gong is, why the CCP persecutes it, and how to help practitioners end the persecution. Some people signed the petition calling to end the persecution.

Practitioners demonstrated the exercises.

People learned about Falun Gong.

A passerby signs the petition calling to end the persecution.

MEP: Europe Should Pass Legislation Similar to Falun Gong Protection Act

Michael Gahler, CDU member of the European Parliament and foreign policy spokesman for the European People’s Party (EVP-Fraktion), addressed the rally.

Michael Gahler, MEP of Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the foreign policy spokesperson of the European People’s Party (EVP-Fraktion), attended the event to show his support and deliver a speech. He condemned the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong practitioners who practice Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, and called on all sectors of society to pay attention to the issue. He said the CCP must stop persecuting Falun Gong practitioners. The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Falun Gong Protection Act, and Europe should follow suit.

Mr. Gahler said, “The European Union, Germany, and the democratic world stand for fundamental human rights. And this includes freedom of belief and conscience. Even the Communist Party of China (PRC) has signed and adopted international conventions such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.”

He pointed out that the CCP’s persecution, “Is something that concerns us too, because international norms and conventions are being violated. And that must be denounced. In the European Parliament, we have long since repeatedly addressed the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners when discussing the human rights situation in China.

“We condemn all persecution, whether it's imprisonment or organ harvesting. And we see that, for example, the U.S. now has [introduced] the Falun Gong Protection Act. I think that should serve as a model for other democratic countries. Its purpose is to identify those who participate in the persecution and then sanction them for it. They are no longer allowed to enter the country, and any accounts they have are blocked.

“I think we should also introduce this with regard to the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. And also the others who persecute the groups I mentioned here.”

Mr. Gahler called attention to the persecuted groups in China, “And with all the contacts we have with China—there will be an EU-China summit at the end of the month—where we will also address these issues alongside the economy, tariffs, and all these other issues, and we can’t forget human rights. And that includes the release [of practitioners].”

Freedom of Belief and Conscience are Fundamental Principles

Mr. Gahler MEP has supported Falun Gong practitioners for many years. He expressed his stance, and said, “Freedom of belief and conscience are fundamental principles of a democratic society. People should be able to assemble peacefully, they should be able to practice their faith.

“They have their principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. These are fundamental, peaceful principles. And the practitioners I’ve met so far are all truly open, friendly, and peaceful people who deserve everything but persecution.”

China Expert: International Community Should Work Together to Counter Transnational Repression

China expert Wu Manyang addressed the rally.

China expert Wu Manyang said in his speech that the CCP’s persecution has continued for 26 years and shows no signs of abating, “This systematic repression includes torture, arbitrary detention, and even forced organ harvesting, which are internationally condemned as serious human rights violations.

“Despite numerous resolutions by the federal government of Germany, the European Union, and the United States condemning these atrocities, the CCP consistently ignores the international community. Instead, the CCP escalates its transnational repression by engaging some western media, probably through corruption, to slander Falun Gong and other affiliated organizations such as the Shen Yun Performing Arts Company and the media company The Epoch Times.

“A recent good example of global resistance to these crimes is the U.S. Congress’s Falun Gong Protection Act, which calls for measures to protect Falun Gong practitioners. The pending bill focuses on imposing sanctions, including visa and property-blocking sanctions, on those who engage in or facilitate forced organ harvesting in China.

“The persecution of Falun Gong is not simply an attack on a spiritual movement, but part of a broader CCP strategy to suppress dissidents and pave the way for its global hegemony. An end to this persecution would not only alleviate the suffering of countless people, but also reduce the threat posed by the CCP and strengthen world peace.

“We call on the international community to resolutely oppose the CCP’s human rights violations and end the persecution of Falun Gong. Together, we can send a strong message for justice and peace.”

Public Support

Jamila Adeladim (left) and her friend like Falun Gong.

Jamila Adeladim, who works in the automotive industry, and her friend were interested in Falun Gong. They did a few exercise movements with the practitioners and said it felt very good. “It was calming and relaxing.”

They both signed the petition calling for a stop to the persecution. Jamila said, “We must sign because this is everyone’s right. It’s a shame that something you like is banned. You only live once. Why does something have to be banned by someone? Who made that decision? It’s wrong.”

In response to the CCP's crime of organ harvesting, she remarked, “Why do they do something like that? We were given a life, why do they take lives? Only God can take lives.”

In regard the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, Jamila said, “You should have that in your heart. It’s important, because that’s also what accompanies you in life, you strive for it.”

Gülsüm signed the petition calling to stop the CCP’s forced organ harvesting.

After seeing the Falun Gong practitioners’ activities and posters, Gülsüm walked to the booth and signed the petition calling for a stop to the CCP’s forced organ harvesting. She said, “Everyone must sign. We cannot understand the act of stealing organs from human bodies and killing people for it.”

She said that the values of Falun Gong, Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, are important, and if they are promoted, they will have an impact on the whole world. “When I saw your banner from a distance, I have to say that this was very powerful and can have an impact. People cannot and should not turn a blind eye. We can no longer give others [the CCP] the opportunity to commit these crimes. Therefore, we must support this petition. We must support each other to protect ourselves from these crimes.”

A young woman talked with a practitioner for a long time, and said this was the first time she heard about the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong. After she signed the petition she repeatedly thanked the practitioner for the information because she could not find it in the media. She said she hoped Falun Gong practitioners continue to raise awareness and that she would also spread information about the persecution on Facebook and other social media networks. She hugged the practitioner before she left.