United Kingdom (MNN) – The United Kingdom is getting off the fence on the issue of the global persecution of Christians.
(Photo courtesy Middle East Concern)
Admitting the UK must ‘do more’, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, a Christian, ordered a review and announced hopes to see an international coalition of like-minded countries addressing the global persecution of Christians. Middle East Concern’s Miles Windsor observes, “There also seems to be a growing realization of the scale of the problem. During the launch at the Foreign Office, reference was made by the Foreign Secretary to the fact that, of those religious groups persecuted internationally, 80-percent of persecution happens to Christians.”
The UK also appointed a Prime Minister Special Envoy for religious freedom within the Foreign Office last summer, which shows that “resources being pushed in this direction.” Why now? It’s time. The inquiry will recommend practical steps to defend the rights of Christians, explains Windsor. “There’s roughly a quarter of a billion Christians internationally who live in a context in which there is severe persecution.” What’s different, Windsor tells us, is that it’s on the agenda at all. “Previously, there has been a real reluctance to reference specifically the persecution of Christians. Governments have tended to couch that in terms of ‘religious freedom for all’.” Hunt’s inquiry is unprecedented because its focus will be specifically on Christians.
Who Are The Persecuted?
The 2019 Open Doors’ World Watch List (WWL), Afghanistan, Libya, Yemen, Iran and Syria, are among eleven countries where the religious rights watchdog group describes the levels of persecution against Christians as “extreme”. Persecution of Christians has been also on the rise throughout Asia, where the report highlights increasing pressure in both India and China.
“Ultimately, the review will be critical in terms of establishing what is going to change in the UK’s response to this”, says Windsor. It seems that the push is not without its supporters. Also noted, a Member of Parliament, David Linden, last week made a point on the urgency of the issue by writing 50 letters in one day, asking the government what it is doing in response to the injustice. Each letter corresponded with a country listed on the 2019 WWL.
(Photo courtesy Open Doors USA)
What Now?
By Easter, preliminary results from the study are expected, with a full report anticipated by summer. Until then, Windsor asks believers to be praying. This is about the freedom of Christians to practice their faith, without fear, and to share what they believe.”We’d value prayer as this review happens, that this won’t simply be another ‘talking shop’ which leads to no great change, but actually, that this will develop into new and dynamic ways of tackling the issue of the persecution of Christians, internationally.”
As to Mr. Hunt’s global coalition, Windsor says it depends on the inquiry’s findings. Still, it’s a step in the right direction. ”It’s encouraging to note that governments do seem to be taking the issues of persecution of Christians more seriously. I think it’s encouraging that there’s an openness to discuss this in a way which hasn’t been discussed at that kind of level.”
