VP/HR — Persecution and genocide of Christians

10.9.2015

Question for written answer P-012721-15
to the Commission (Vice-President/High Representative)
Rule 130
Marijana Petir (PPE)

Freedom of religion, which includes the freedom to adhere to one’s religion without hindrance and to practice one’s religion in public, holds a special place among our fundamental human rights. All those who have failed to recognise that freedom have belonged to totalitarian regimes and their crimes are harshly condemned today.

Religious freedom is one of the most important human rights, and attempts to restrict it must not be tolerated. Christianity, which is an old and peaceful religion, has the same rights as any other religion. We must defend the rights of Christians, harshly condemn the acts of genocide being carried out against them by Islamic extremists and put a stop to these crimes once and for all.

The harsh rules being imposed by ISIS upon Christians who wish to live in areas under jihadist control are entirely unacceptable, and yet we continue to see the same thing time and time again. Most recently, in the Syrian city of Al-Qaryatayn, ISIS has been forcing Christians to convert to Islam and has banned all Christian religious symbols, even though they do no harm to anyone else or to any other religion. Bearers of Christian symbols are branded as traitors, forbidden from living alongside the city’s Muslim inhabitants and ultimately thrown out of their own homes. There is an urgent need for the High Representative for Human Rights to respond.

What is the High Representative doing to ensure that Christians have the right to practice their religion and to protect them from genocide and from being thrown out of their homes by Islamic extremists?