The President of the European Parliament (EP) has said Europe must not continue to ignore the persecution of Christians, “clearly the most persecuted group” in the world today.
President Martin Schulz made his comments during a high-level meeting in Brussels convened specifically to discuss the plight of Christian communities and ways of tackling anti-Christian persecution.
“I can assure you that Parliament will make its contribution wherever it can to protect Christians,” Mr Schulz vowed during his address to delegates.
“Persecution is happening outside the EU but we can’t afford to ignore it…All of us, particularly in the EP, are aware that dialogue and mutual respect are needed…Fundamental rights are under great threat today and persecution of a religion [is] a breach of fundamental rights.”
Mr Schulz’s message was echoed by the European Parliament’s Vice President Antonio Tajani, the main organiser of the meeting. In his own address he stated that “each month 200 churches and places of worship in the world are attacked and destroyed. Every day and in every region of the world, there are new cases of persecution against Christians.
“No religious community is as subject to hatred, violence and systematic aggression as the Christians,” he said.
Mr Tajanai went on to assert that, in the face of radicalised religion, as currently evidenced in the form of Islamic State, religion has a role to play in tackling such extremism.
“In the name of religion,” he said, “we have an obligation to condemn all those who show contempt for life and kill in the name of God. Whoever shoots in the name of God, shoots against God.”
