European Union Officials Urged to Support Persecuted Christians
ICC Note: During an interfaith meeting of various religious leaders, officials from the European Union were urged to take greater action on behalf of Christians facing persecution for their faith. The discussion narrowed in on the plight of religious minorities in the Middle East who have faced violence and displacement at the hands of extremists. This meeting was a positive step forward in creating a discussion in an effort to bring greater peace among differing religious groups.
By Harry Farley
11/30/2016 Europe (Christian Today) – European Union officials were urged to help persecuted Christians in the 12th meeting of religious leaders on Tuesday.
EU Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans was told of the concern for abused minorities in the Middle East at the meeting in Brussels.
“They [Christians] need support, material support, concrete support and a safe place,” said Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, chairman of the council of the Evangelical Church in Germany in a press conference afterwards.
He said Christians wanted the protection necessary to return home, according to EUObserver.
“Many people told me we will leave if this happens again, they need support by the European Commission and other institutions,” he added in reference to his own time in northern Iraq.’
The chief rabbi of Vienna, Arie Folger, accused the EU of not treating the situation seriously.
He said he was “very concerned the plight of Christians in certain parts of the Middle East has not been considered a matter serious enough for European countries, for Western countries in general, to get involved and react.”