Slovakia: Petition Drive Garners Support for Falun Dafa

(Minghui.org) During June and early July, Falun Dafa practitioners held petition events in Skalica, Myjava, and Nitra in western Slovakia. They told residents about Falun Dafa and how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) persecutes it. They demonstrated the exercises and collected signatures on a petition calling to stop the ongoing persecution.

Nitra Residents Learn About Falun Dafa

In Nitra, a city of 80,000 inhabitants, the petition drive took place on Štefánik Street on July 4 and 5, while the city was celebrating the arrival of Constantine and Methodius in Great Moravia. Many people came to the city to celebrate and talked to practitioners. After learning about the persecution, they voiced their support for Falun Dafa practitioners.

People sign the petition in Nitra.

Vilimek, a retired veterinarian, hadn’t heard of the persecution of Falun Dafa before. He had his own experience of the communist regime in the former Czechoslovakia and said he understood the practitioners’ plight. He signed a petition to end the persecution of Falun Dafa in China and told the practitioners: “Don’t give up.”

Barbara, a mechanical engineer, signed the petition and said, “Human rights should not be violated.” She said it’s good that events to expose the persecution are being held internationally and encouraged people in China who are persecuted to persevere and not give up.

Mr. Parko, a hairdresser, signed the petition to express his opposition to the persecution. He thinks practicing Falun Dafa’s values, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, can benefit society and give people more patience.

Some people were interested in learning more about Falun Dafa. Lenka tried the Falun Dafa exercises. She said that in her job as a cashier, she’s constantly surrounded by information and chaos. She found the exercises very peaceful. She liked how she was able to concentrate on only one thing in her mind when she did them, because she usually has to do several things at once.

“The exercises make me feel good and I’d like to do them very much,” she said. Regarding Falun Dafa’s principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, she said, “I think it could help people in our country.” She also added that she would like to go to the practice site.

A man from another town who signed the petition said it is important when people see other cultures and take good things from them, “You’re not just here for now and for today, but it has a wider impact for the longer term.”

One student who signed the petition said, “My mom is from China, I signed the petition since I know about Falun Dafa from Shen Yun.”

Myjava: Students Sign the Petition to End the Persecution

On Friday, June 27, practitioners held a petition drive in Myjava. Myjava is a small city in western Slovakia, with about 10,000 inhabitants. It was the first time practitioners held a petition drive in this small town. It was the last day of the school year, so many people and students were walking around. People watched as practitioners did the exercises and were curious about the petition.

Practitioners held a petition event in Myjava on June 27, 2025

A group of students sat on a bench and watched as practitioners did the Falun Dafa exercises. One woman asked a practitioner to come over and explain what the petition was about. All of the students signed it. They also tried the exercises.

One woman was given a leaflet as she walked past, and then she and her friend sat on a bench. After she read the leaflet, she asked the practitioner to tell her more. She asked if the exercises really helped. She signed the petition and wished practitioners good luck.

Skalica: People Interested in Learning Falun Dafa

A petition drive was held in Skalica on Friday, June 20. Practitioners previously visited this town about two years ago. Many people were interested in Falun Dafa and signed the petition.

One elderly woman was interested in the exercises, and when she found that the practice place was far away, she said she would ask her granddaughter to show her how to learn the exercises through the Internet.

When a group of students walked by, they asked if they could take a picture with practitioners as they did the second exercise. When the practitioners explained that in China people are persecuted when they do these exercises, they all decided to sign the petition. They took leaflets and said they would read more at home.