8 | - Número: 024 | 11 de Maio de 2013

Here, in the heart of this continent, Anders Breivik murdered 77 people to push his own agenda of madness and cultural hatred.
Just recently in France we saw the effects extreme religious intolerance can have on our society, with the shootings of 7 people perpetraded by a Salafist radical.
Examples abound in Eastern Europe, where the persecution of Jews is an all too dreadful reality.
Yet we have all signed the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, whose Article 18 states clearly “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.” This very Assembly has passed numerous Recommendations and Resolution aiming for the protection of religious freedom.
But are these but vapid words from nothing but a well intended Council of Europe? Do we go to exercise them in our daily lives, in the smallest contact with our muslim, christian, jewish acquaintances – black, white and yellow? Maybe not to the full extent we could... Yet, I look at the desperate situation around the world to which some Christian communities are subjected, the targets for all kind of radical hatred and aggression, and I wonder to what extent such political statements of tolerance and communication are applied in some not so distant parts of the world. Can it be compared to the ongoing efforts of this Union in promoting religious dialogue as part of its prioritary agenda? The answer is no.
When we take the time to look at the attacks against the Egyptian Copts, the Kaduna massacre in a Catholic church, the first thing that comes into view is the sensation of impunity and institutionalized coverage the criminal benefit from.
It is hard to deem as even remotely acceptable that any of our leaders should deliver such a tirade against Muslims as Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah delivered recently against Christians. Yet, this type of rhetoric is an all too frequent reality even in countries we, in the West, consider our friends and allies. It’s a widespread ideology of discrimination, often conducted for political gain, and one that is legitimized everytime we avoid to push these painful issues for debate.
There is no comparison between the outrage some ‘caricatures’ of the Prophet Mohammed cause in the muslim world against the next to insignificant coverage we dedicate to – for instance – the Staines’ murders in Orissa.
No doubt that no person is safe, either here, in Europe, or in Asia, from any form of religious aggression, whether in the form of verbal abuse, physical attacks or even terrorism.
I would like therefore to join Mr. Volonté’s calls on the Council’s member states, as stated on his report, in pushing for greater dialogue between communities and religions, and stronger condemnations where religion related attacks take place.
I would especially like to urge this Assembly to lay particular emphasis on the systematic persecution of Christian communities around the world, especially in countries of non-Christian majorities, as well, of course, as any form of discrimination or aggression practiced against any religious community in Europe and the world.
Into religion we pour the hopes and expectations, the fear and primal feelings, that make us human in the first place. Religion is often seen as the ultimate haven, where society offers no hope. The rule of law is powerless here. The political process impotent.
Everywhere, in his mosque, in his church, in his temple, Man frequently runs to find the answers society doesn’t provide. The confirmation of his moral virtue, heritage, culture – in sum, a sense of communion with ‘something’ that transcends the ‘secular’ and ‘immediate’ of everyday life.
It is a Human Right. Nobody has the right to destroy it.

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