Cathal BarryThe minister also pointed out that his department had received a publication listing 60 countries where Christians were persecuted
Foreign affairs minister Charlie Flanagan has said the persecution of Christians and other minorities in the Middle East is “a cause for particularly serious concern”.
Fianna Fáil’s Willie O’Dea and Labour’s Dominic Hannigan both raised the issue in written questions to the Department of Foreign Affairs in the Dáil last week.
Responding on behalf of the Government, minister Flanagan said: “In recent weeks, we have seen the extreme brutality and lawlessness demonstrated by ISIS in Iraq and in Syria, which is utterly abhorrent and unacceptable.
“Threats and violence aimed at minority communities, including Christians and Yazidis, are intolerable,” the minister said.
Fielding questions on Ireland’s response to the crisis, Mr Flanagan said Ireland “has allocated €1.1 million to the emergency response to the conflict and unfolding humanitarian catastrophe, with a focus which includes Christians and other minority groups.
“In addition, Ireland presses for effective action to counter the persecution of minorities in all relevant international fora, including the EU and UN,” he said.
The minister also pointed out that his department had received a publication listing 60 countries where Christians were persecuted.
Solidarity
Church in Chains is a member of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade-NGO Standing Committee on Human Rights which meets five times a year.
Mr Flanagan assured both deputies that Ireland “stands in solidarity with human rights defenders around the world advocating for their right to freedom of religion or belief” and would “continue to work to help to realise a world in which this right is respected and protected.
“Ireland strongly condemns, and attaches great importance to combatting, all forms of persecution or discrimination based on religion or belief and incitement to religious hatred, irrespective of where they occur or who are the victims.
“We firmly believe in tolerance, non-discrimination, freedom of expression,
freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief,” he said.