Finland: Practitioners Commemorate the 22nd Anniversary of the April 25 Peaceful Appeal

Finnish Falun Dafa practitioners gathered in front of the Chinese embassy at 8 a.m. to peacefully protest on April 22, 2021. At around 3 p.m, practitioners held a candlelight vigil at Kampi Shopping Center to commemorate the peaceful appeal by Falun Dafa practitioners in Beijing on April 25, 1999.

Ten thousand Falun Dafa practitioners who lived by the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance gathered at China's central appeals office in Beijing on April 25, 1999. Their peaceful and rational appeal shocked many within the nation and internationally.

Falun Dafa practitioners peacefully protest outside the Chinese embassy.

A practitioner handed a young Chinese lady a copy of the Minghui Weekly that introduced the April 25 peaceful appeal as she entered the Chinese embassy. She said: “Oh, I know about this.” She waved goodbye to the practitioners when she came out of the embassy.

A Finnish woman slowed down her car and gave practitioners a thumbs up to show her support.

When the activity ended, a practitioner handed a truth-clarification flyer to a lady and her elderly mother. The practitioner said: “We are commemorating the peaceful protests of Falun Dafa practitioners that happened on April 25, 1999 in China.” The lady said that she was aware of Falun Dafa and started to explain the facts about Falun Dafa to her mother.

Practitioners held a candlelight vigil from 3 to 6 p.m. to commemorate the peaceful protest that happened on April 25, 1999. The activity attracted many onlookers.

Falun Dafa practitioners holding a candlelight vigil at the city’s center.

Fred, who worked at a hospital, and his friend Keit were talking with a practitioner who said: “The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is like a tyrant who does a lot of bad things.”

Keit asked: “How many signatures do you need?” The practitioners said: “We’ve been petitioning for more than 20 years and hope to have more signatures by the end of the persecution.” Keit suddenly realized: “I know that the purpose of this effort is to have more people be aware of Falun Dafa.”

Finns show their interest in Falun Dafa.

It was Sanni’s first time encountering Falun Dafa. She said: “I’ve never heard about Falun Dafa. It is really hard for me to understand why the CCP wants to silence its people. I know they want to be in power and control, but I don’t understand why power and control is that important.”

Upon hearing about how a practitioner at the information booth was illegally detained in China for eight years, the practitioner’s mother had passed away and how another practitioner was also illegally detained for two years, Sanni was very upset.

“I am very happy that these Falun Dafa practitioners are now in Finland. You are doing something very important. It really upsets me to see how people are doing something so evil for personal gain and profit, such as the organ harvesting of living practitioners.”

“There is a legislative meeting today,” Sanni said, “and I hope that the media outlets and government representatives can hear you. I will put this information on social media, and make sure that my friends are more aware of what is going on. I will also look into this matter.”

Afand, an Iranian immigrant, came to the information booth with his friend and son. After listening to a practitioner telling him about Falun Dafa, he took out his identification card and said: “Please help me sign my name on the petition, I am fully aware of the true nature of communism. They will do anything to gain power.”