European Union report on persecution of religious minorities deemed
"openly hostile to religion"
MEPs and organisations are strongly critical of the European Union's report on the persecution of religious minorities.
On Monday, the report by Karol Karski, on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, on the persecution of minorities based on belief or religion, was debated in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
Rapporteur Karol Karski explained that his "hypothesis was to develop the most complete picture of the situation on different continents, a kind of map of persecutions or problems encountered by representatives of various religious or non-believing groups". The aim of this report is, according to him, "to draw the attention of the European institutions and the public to the problem of restrictions affecting various religious and non-religious groups, and the attacks on them in many places around the world".
"It turned out, perhaps not surprisingly, that Christians are the most persecuted religious group," he said before continuing, "followers of Islam follow them closely and Judaism occupies the third place." He said Christians are persecuted in 145 countries.
During the debate, criticism was raised about this report.
Peter van Dalen, MEP and member of the Christian Union, took part in the drafting of this report. He revealed that "the names of individuals and organizations who have been persecuted for their faith have been removed from the report." He believes that "Parliament pays too little political attention to people persecuted because of their religion" and "hopes that the Commission will quickly appoint the new envoy for religious freedom, because we have been waiting too long for him".
MP Bert-Jan Ruissen said he shared "the concerns expressed by Peter van Dalen that Christians are no longer mentioned in the report and that a lot of information has been changed". In particular, he found it "particularly inconceivable and unpleasant" that "the report criticizes believers for their position on abortion."
"This subject is not only outside the scope of the report, but also outside the competence of the European Union. Every life is worthy of protection, especially the unborn life. We should not criticize believers, but rather praise them for attaching importance to the care of life. »
For her part, Miriam Lexmann expressed her "dismay at the way in which this report has been misused to stigmatize religion itself."
"Mr. President, from Nigeria to China, the state of religious freedom continues to deteriorate. From genocide to legal restrictions, hundreds of millions of believers – whether Christians, Muslims, Buddhists or other groups – face terrible suffering every day. While I welcome the EP report on the persecution of religious freedom, I cannot help but express my dismay at the way in which this report has been misused to stigmatise religion itself. Today, religious persecution is one of the main drivers of many of the challenges facing the world. And that is why it is not anti-religious ideological positions, but firm support for the persecuted in the world, as well as the appointment of a new special envoy for religious freedom, supported by the right instruments, that must be the priority. »
Reacting to this report, the Commission of the Episcopal Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) issued a statement, echoing the words of its Secretary General Manuel Barrios Prieto.
"Any attempt to infringe on the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion and the right to life through abusive interpretations that unduly restrict their legitimate scope or to subject them to newly created and non-consensual 'so-called human rights', including abortion, constitutes a serious violation of international law that discredits the European Union
before the international community and millions of European citizens."
He affirms, "this motion for a resolution, in its current form, will not help millions of religious believers who are victims of persecution because of their faith, especially vulnerable women and girls, because their situation will be obscured
and made invisible by giving priority to other political interests".
Jean-Paul Van De Walle, a Brussels-based legal adviser to the human rights organisation ADF International,
denounced the report as "openly hostile to religion".
"No one should be persecuted because of their faith. It is unacceptable that this report, which seeks to show solidarity with people persecuted for their faith, is openly hostile to religion. By adopting the wording of this report, the European Parliament has undermined its credibility in addressing the challenges faced by religious minorities around the world. »
The report on the persecution of minorities on the basis of belief or religion was adopted on 3 May.
On Monday, the report by Karol Karski, on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, on the persecution of minorities based on belief or religion, was debated in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
Rapporteur Karol Karski explained that his "hypothesis was to develop the most complete picture of the situation on different continents, a kind of map of persecutions or problems encountered by representatives of various religious or non-believing groups". The aim of this report is, according to him, "to draw the attention of the European institutions and the public to the problem of restrictions affecting various religious and non-religious groups, and the attacks on them in many places around the world".
"It turned out, perhaps not surprisingly, that Christians are the most persecuted religious group," he said before continuing, "followers of Islam follow them closely and Judaism occupies the third place." He said Christians are persecuted in 145 countries.
During the debate, criticism was raised about this report.
Peter van Dalen, MEP and member of the Christian Union, took part in the drafting of this report. He revealed that "the names of individuals and organizations who have been persecuted for their faith have been removed from the report." He believes that "Parliament pays too little political attention to people persecuted because of their religion" and "hopes that the Commission will quickly appoint the new envoy for religious freedom, because we have been waiting too long for him".
MP Bert-Jan Ruissen said he shared "the concerns expressed by Peter van Dalen that Christians are no longer mentioned in the report and that a lot of information has been changed". In particular, he found it "particularly inconceivable and unpleasant" that "the report criticizes believers for their position on abortion."
"This subject is not only outside the scope of the report, but also outside the competence of the European Union. Every life is worthy of protection, especially the unborn life. We should not criticize believers, but rather praise them for attaching importance to the care of life. »
For her part, Miriam Lexmann expressed her "dismay at the way in which this report has been misused to stigmatize religion itself."
"Mr. President, from Nigeria to China, the state of religious freedom continues to deteriorate. From genocide to legal restrictions, hundreds of millions of believers – whether Christians, Muslims, Buddhists or other groups – face terrible suffering every day. While I welcome the EP report on the persecution of religious freedom, I cannot help but express my dismay at the way in which this report has been misused to stigmatise religion itself. Today, religious persecution is one of the main drivers of many of the challenges facing the world. And that is why it is not anti-religious ideological positions, but firm support for the persecuted in the world, as well as the appointment of a new special envoy for religious freedom, supported by the right instruments, that must be the priority. »
Reacting to this report, the Commission of the Episcopal Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) issued a statement, echoing the words of its Secretary General Manuel Barrios Prieto.
"Any attempt to infringe on the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion and the right to life through abusive interpretations that unduly restrict their legitimate scope or to subject them to newly created and non-consensual 'so-called human rights', including abortion, constitutes a serious violation of international law that discredits the European Union
before the international community and millions of European citizens."
He affirms, "this motion for a resolution, in its current form, will not help millions of religious believers who are victims of persecution because of their faith, especially vulnerable women and girls, because their situation will be obscured
and made invisible by giving priority to other political interests".
Jean-Paul Van De Walle, a Brussels-based legal adviser to the human rights organisation ADF International,
denounced the report as "openly hostile to religion".
"No one should be persecuted because of their faith. It is unacceptable that this report, which seeks to show solidarity with people persecuted for their faith, is openly hostile to religion. By adopting the wording of this report, the European Parliament has undermined its credibility in addressing the challenges faced by religious minorities around the world. »
The report on the persecution of minorities on the basis of belief or religion was adopted on 3 May.
Christian Info
EU report on persecution of religious minorities deemed 'openly hostile to religion' (infochretienne.com)
EU report on persecution of religious minorities deemed 'openly hostile to religion' (infochretienne.com)