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An appeal “to the international community, especially the European countries that have a historical responsibility for the fate of Christians”, asking them to develop “a global mechanism in defence of Christian communities across the world, based on dialogue and sincere cooperation between the States, the religious communities and society”. The president of the Department of External Relations of the Patriarchate of Moscow, the Metropolitan Bishop Hilarion, too takes position with a statement about the defence of Christians in the world, published after the death of 12 people who were killed in the fire of two Coptic churches in Giza, Egypt. Facts – Metropolitan bishop Hilarion writes – that have caused feelings of “pain and alarm” all over the world. The Russian Metropolitan Bishops states that he appreciated “the statements made by the Muslim leaders of Egypt who firmly condemned the instigators of such violence. We hope in the future the leaders of the Muslim community will keep regularly reminding their followers of rejecting any form of criminal action against the life and religious freedom of the Christians of Egypt who have been living for centuries side by side with Muslims in a spirit of peace and good neighbourhood”.

“We believe – Hilarion writes – that the political future of Egypt is unthinkable without the defence of the local Christian communities that have always supported the State and legality in the country”. “The Egypt events – Hilarion goes on – are unfortunately just one episode in a broader process of threatening the life of Christians in many countries across the world in which they are a religious minority. The relentless escalation of violence against Christians, in those regions in which they have been living for centuries, cannot help arousing deep restlessness. Over the last few years, the Christianophobia which is expressed by the attacks against the life and rights of these brothers of ours has become systematic. International organisations, such as the UN and the European Parliament, have expressed their concern about this issue”. But, while Europe is striving to “protect the rights of non-Christian minorities”, “the problem of Christianophobia does not worry the authorities of those countries in which such community is a minority. Hopefully Egypt, which has recently turned a new leaf in its political history, will give serious consideration to the problem of defending the Christian minority and that, in other countries in which Christians are the victims of discrimination and persecution, the State will be able to take measures to defend them”.

© SIR - may, 11th 2011