Coptic Orthodox
Church UK Media and Communications Office
Coptic Orthodox Church (Europe) Media and Communications Office
Reflection by His Eminence
Archbishop Angaelos,
Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London, following the fire in Abu Sefein Church,
Imbaba, Egypt
15 August 2022
It is with great sadness that we received news
yesterday of the tragic loss of life caused by a fire in the Coptic Orthodox Church
of Abu Sefein in Imbaba, on the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt. To-date 41 precious
lives, many of whom are children, have been lost, and scores of people remain
injured. What is even more tragic, is that due to the nature of Liturgical
attendance, many of these fatalities and injuries were multi-generational, with
families mourning numerous members.
As many bury their loved ones today, and others
support survivors in hospitals and at home, we pray repose for those who have
sadly departed, comfort for those who mourn them, healing for those who will
bear the physical and emotional scars, and support for the families and communities
that will continue to recover from this tragedy over the coming weeks, months and
even years.
While much is being said about the cause of the
fire, and the response time of emergency services, this must be left to what we
hope and expect will be a robust and transparent investigation. For now, we focus
on those most in need of our care and attention.
I am so touched by the outpouring of support
that I personally, as well as many of my colleagues, have received from friends
and acquaintances across Britain and around the world. Their gracious care, and
the assurance of their thoughts and prayers, will be a source of great strength
and support for our sisters and brothers in Imbaba and around the world.
Two bittersweet realities arise from this
tragedy. The first is that Churches in Egypt are filled by the faithful on a
regular basis, and so when tragedy strikes it strikes at a high cost, and at
the heart of the community. The second is that tragedy creates a platform for
us to recognise and value one another while experiencing each other’s pain and comforting
one another through our suffering.
These tragic moments inevitably lead people from
all walks of life to empathise with the suffering of mothers and fathers who
weep for their children, children who have lost parents, families who have been
torn apart, and friends separated. It is in that shared experience that we find
hope in our common humanity, and ability to understand, grieve with, respect
and value one another and the sanctity of life that we all share.
Assured of the promise and power of the
Resurrection, we bid farewell to those who have departed from this world, and
pledge to pray for and support those who remain with us, so deeply affected by
this harrowing experience.
Coptic Orthodox Church UK Media and Communications Office
Coptic Orthodox Church (Europe) Media and Communications Office
Comment
and Call to Prayer by His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos, Coptic Orthodox Archbishop
of London and Papal Legate to the United Kingdom.
28 February 2022
Just over a week ago it would
have been inconceivable for most of us to imagine that there would be a war in
Europe, and yet today we see the pain and destruction of war unfolding before our
eyes in the streets, villages, and cities of Ukraine. We are seeing the
now-too-familiar images of hundreds of thousands of men, women and children
being internally and externally displaced; once-settled people being faced with
uncertainty, and families being separated by war and conflict.
With the presence of twenty-four-hour reporting, we can become too easily distracted by the analysis of maps,
charts and statistics, and forget the very real personal and human cost that is
being met by very real people in-country, and by their families and friends
around the world.
In this holy season of Lent across our Churches and Traditions,
let us raise our hearts in prayer for an end to this war and conflict with the
least possible loss of life, and for a restoration of peace and healing.
We pray protection upon the people and the armed forces of
Ukraine and Russia. We pray wisdom upon leaders and policy makers, that regardless
of geopolitical considerations, the preservation of sacred life always stands
paramount. We pray peace for a world that is still recovering from a global
pandemic that has affected so many, and has had an immense toll on us all.
May the Prince of Peace, our sovereign God, answer the prayers
of millions around the world for an end to this war and further loss of life.
Coptic Orthodox Church UK
Media and Communications Office
Coptic
Orthodox Church (Europe)
Media and Communications Office
‘No Monopoly on Suffering’ themed Contemporary Martyrs Day 2022, with
contributions from Archbishop Angaelos, Fiona Bruce MP, The Lord Alton of
Liverpool, The Bishop of Truro, Mervyn Thomas CMG, and Gareth Russell, Jersey
Road PR.
24 February 2022
Contemporary Martyrs Day 2022
was marked in an online event on 15 February 2022 themed ‘No Monopoly on
Suffering’, highlighting not only the plight of the 21 Libya Martyrs who paid
the ultimate price for their Christian Faith on 15 February 2015, but also the
many communities that continue to suffer the brunt of persecution for
practicing and living their chosen religion or belief.
Dr Ewelina Ochab, Deputy
Director of Refcemi moderated the meeting, and gave wider context to
Contemporary Martyrs Day, saying:
“We
wish to use this day to shine a light on the issue of religion or belief,
whenever and wherever it occurs. We use this day to stand with all those
persecuted because of their religion or belief. Persecution is an issue that
affects us all in various ways, this is also why this year, in preparing for
Contemporary Martyrs Day, we have reached out to many religious or belief
groups asking them to participate in this event, and we will hear from a few of
them as they speak about the situation faced by their communities, including
the Uyghurs in China, the Yazidis in Iraq and the Hazaras in Afghanistan.”
Launching the
‘#TellTheirStory’ Refcemi campaign, Dr Ochab continued:
“Over
the next year we hope to highlight more stories, and this is the beginning of
our campaign ‘Tell Their Story’ which aims to educate on the situation of
communities around the world, to help them to speak out and trigger real change.
As you hear their stories, tell their stories to others. It is our duty to
spread the word and call for change. Change is urgently needed. Our advocacy
effort aims to educate and unite in purpose to combat violations against
religion or belief.”
His Eminence Archbishop
Angaelos, Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London, Founder and Director of
Refcemi, said in his preamble:
“This
event serves primarily to mark Contemporary Martyrs Day, a day set aside to
remember the 21 martyrs in Libya, 20 Coptic Christians and 1 Ghanian friend,
Matthew, and those from within the Coptic Orthodox community who have been
persecuted for their Christian Faith, and those who have paid the ultimate
price. Yet, it is not only a day for that. If we merely look at our own
suffering within ourselves, then I think we lose sight of something. Following
on from the execution of the 21 Libya martyrs in 2015, many people from many
faith communities, and those of no faith at all, were touched because that
particular situation spoke possibly of their own experience, or of the
experience of someone else they knew, whether within Britain or around the
world, and for that reason that ability of ours to look within ourselves but
then out into the world is an essential one.”
Highlighting the scale of the
issue, His Eminence continued:
“82%
of the world considers itself religious, and yet over 80% of the countries in
which people of faith reside, there will be some level of religious persecution
taking place. To look at the experience of the 21 Libya martyrs, Christians targeted
and executed for their Faith, also allows us to look beyond ourselves to other communities,
and today we are joined by friends from the Uyghur, Yazidi and Hazara
communities.
There
is no monopoly on suffering. There is enough suffering in this world for us all
to stand up for not only someone we know, but communities that we may not know
of, but we hear about.”
A message from The Most
Reverend and Right Honourable Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, addressed
to His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos, was read by His Grace Bishop Christopher
Chessun, Bishop of Southwark:
“Our
solidarity with the martyrs means that spiritually we stand together on holy
ground as we remember them. We all witness to the same faith, to the same
overwhelming love of Christ crucified Who has touched and transformed our
lives. The martyrs, past and present, speak most eloquently of Him. Our
contemporary martyrs, such as the 21 we commemorate particularly today, remind
us that the love of Christ is for every age, including our own. We are humbled
and grateful as we remember them.”
The Bishop of Southwark then
went on to speak about a recent pilgrimage journey to Egypt with Archbishop
Angaelos, and said:
“We do
not suffer these challenges here in the same way in the United Kingdom, but it
is right that we stand in solidarity and hope, praying with, and advocating for
those of our brothers and sisters who are hindered, ignored, threatened or even
killed. The debate on Christian persecution and freedom of religion or belief at
General Synod last week, which His Eminence has already mentioned, while it was
just want example of solidarity with the persecuted Church. A vote was taken
which was unanimous to stand up for all those persecuted for their faith.”
Speaking about the powerful
example of Matthew, the Ghanian, who was killed alongside the 20 Copts in Libya
on 15 February 2015, The Lord Alton of Liverpool said:
“Matthew,
in this extraordinary act of love and solidarity, was willing to give his
liberty and his life rather than walk away from his Coptic brothers. It
stands as a rebuke to us all who remain silent in the face of the persecution
of 250 million Christians worldwide. His act of extraordinary
solidarity shames so many of us when we consider our tepid response – often
based on political expediency, institutional considerations, or trade and business
– to the persecution which is experienced by religious and ethnic groups the
world over – discrimination that morphs into persecution; then persecution
which morphs into crimes against humanity; and then ultimately into the crime
above all crimes, genocide.”
“…When
Matthew Ayariga stood with his Coptic brothers, he did so in an uncommon,
atypical, display of common humanity.Are we willing to do the same?
The Rt Revd Philip
Mounstephen, The Bishop of Truro, who was tasked with ‘The Independent Review
of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Response to Christian Persecution’, and
said:
“It is
right I think that this event should become a fixture in our calendar, not as
something we give the nod to annually and not even just to remember those brave
Christian brothers martyred on that Libyan beach, simply because they were
followers of Jesus Christ, who died with the name of Jesus on their lips,
though of course we do rightly honour them tonight. No; we should keep this
date because of the pressing urgency of the times in which we live, and also
because of the enduring significance of this issue. There is a pressing
contemporary urgency in that this situation is getting steadily worse globally
and indeed has worsened steadily since my Review reported over two and a half
years ago now.”
Bishop Philip continued:
“The
wholesale denial of Freedom of Religion or Belief, and the increasing denial of
that, is a great evil. That people should be targeted simply because they
believe different things and organise their lives accordingly is a monstrous
evil. That 83% of the world’s population have that freedom curtailed is simply
unacceptable, and that 80% of religiously motivated discrimination is directed
against Christians is intolerable, and this is getting steadily worse.”
Fiona Bruce MP, Prime
Minister’s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), said in her
address:
“It is
right that we remember on Contemporary Martyrs Day, the horrific fate of those
men murdered by Daesh on that beach in Libya, targeted purely because they were
Christians, but we should not simply remember. We owe it to them, and their
families, to act, to see that such barbaric events do not continue to happen.
Sadly, as we have already heard this evening, far too many Freedom of Religion
or Belief violations are increasingly happening every day and around the world
today, yet just over a year on from my appointment as the Prime Ministers
Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, and even amidst the
unfathomable, and sadly increasing suffering which we have heard of already
this evening, I do want to encourage you. I want to encourage you today by what
I have heard over the past year of the increase in the number and the
determination of people of organisations and even of countries who are stepping
up to join the charge to challenge these abuses and to work to ensure that
everyone everywhere is free to follow their faith or belief.”
Ms Bruce continued to
illustrate the work that the UK Government is doing in the area of FoRB,
including international engagement, announcing a major upcoming Ministerial on
FoRB, as well as FoRB fringe events, both of which will be held in London in
2022. The entire message can be viewed via the Refcemi YouTube channel.
Mervyn Thomas CMG, Chair of
the UK FoRB Forum, urged all to move from awareness to action, and went on to
say in his address:
“The
United Nations Declaration of Human Rights gives everyone the right to choose,
to change, and to practice their religion and if every country who had signed
on to the agreement actually upheld that right in practice there would be many
fewer martyrs in the world today. Sadly that is not the case. According to the
Pew research centre, as we’ve already heard, 83% of the world’s population live
in countries with high or very high restrictions on religious freedom.”
“As a
Christian, I have had to ask myself ‘did my remit to speak up for religious
freedom extend beyond the Christian community. What does the Bible say about
that? In Proverbs Chapter 31:8 we read: ‘We are to speak up for those who
cannot speak for themselves, ensure justice for those being crushed,’…everyone
is our neighbour, even those we don’t like or see eye to eye with or indeed
whose theology is fundamentally different from our own. In the light of that,
CSW moved from being a persecuted church organisation to one that promoted
religious freedom for all faiths and none, but nevertheless our work is
motivated by our Christian Faith.”
Gareth Russell, Founder and
Director, Jersey Road PR highlighted the responsibility of both the media and
religious and belief groups to tell the stories of those who are persecuted, saying:
“People
are twice as likely today than they were ten years ago to be open to
spirituality and yet religious groups often lack the confidence to speak openly
about the message of their faith for fear of ridicule or being ostracised, or
as we mark today, being persecuted. That fear is not unfounded. As a PR agency
we work in the business of stories and this evening we have heard many powerful
stories…There are times they are dismissed, not for the quality of the story,
but for the motivation of those within it. The role that religion plays in a media
story can attract cynicism just by its very nature, often fuelled by a deep
misunderstanding of faith.”
“The
All Party Parliamentary Group on Religion in the Media released a report last
year that found media reporting on a religion can be sensationalist, that it
can reinforce problematic stereotypes, that it can commit basic mistakes and
use imprecise language that homogenises faith groups while ignoring the
diversity within those same groups. There is a need for a commitment from the
media to religious literacy, if we are to build a more confident, harmonious
society…There is also a responsibility on the part of religious groups to
better understand the mechanics of the media and the needs of journalists…to
present stories in a manner that takes into consideration their much reduced
capacity and pressurised deadlines.”
His Eminence Archbishop
Angaelos, concluded the webinar by saying:
“We
have heard of the opportunities presented this year in Britain, with the
upcoming UK Ministerial on Freedom of Religion or Belief, and the Lambeth
Conference. We are thankful for the Truro Review and all that it brings, not
only for the work of Bishop Philip himself and his team, but also for the work
of the FCDO and all it has done through the work of the Special Envoy’s office
and her team, along with others who are helping on this matter as a whole.”
“There
is no monopoly on suffering. There is much suffering, and there is much more to
be said and to be done. Today we have spoken, but many of us have also acted.
When we act together, we bring so much more light and hope into the lives of
many. This is not a philosophical or theoretical debate; this is about lives.
As Christians it is part of the cross that we carry to accept persecution for
ourselves, but never to accept it for others. It is a burden we may choose to
carry, but we must never be silent to the suffering of others, and as
Christians we do not advocate only for Christians but for everyone created in
the image and likeness of God.”
The event also launched the
‘Tell Their Story’ campaign, in which three testimonies were heard from
representatives of the Uyghur, Yazidi and Hazara communities. Watch via www.Youtube.com/Refcemi (Tell
Their Story playlist).
Coptic Orthodox
Church UK Media and Communications Office
Coptic Orthodox Church (Europe) Media and Communications Office
Messages
received from Her Majesty The Queen, HRH the Prince of Wales, the Archbishop of
Canterbury and the Prime Minister at the annual Coptic New Year (Nayrouz)
Service at St Margaret’s Church, Westminster Abbey
10 November 2021
Messages were received from
Her Majesty The Queen, His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, the Most
Reverend Archbishop Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Right
Honourable Boris Johnson MP, Prime Minister, as the annual Nayrouz (Coptic New
Year) Service returned to St Margaret’s Church, Westminster Abbey on 9 November 2021. Addresses
were delivered by The Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, Prime Minister’s Special
Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict and Minster of State
(Minister for South Asia, United Nations and the Commonwealth), and the
Baroness Cox of Queensbury and Dr Ewelina Ochab, Deputy Director of Refcemi,
The Coptic Orthodox Office for Advocacy and Public Policy.
Members of the House of Lords
and House of Commons, the Diplomatic Corps, the Foreign, Commonwealth and
Development Office, the Home Office, and humanitarian and advocacy
organisations, as well as various ecumenical and inter-religious guests, joined
members of the Coptic Orthodox community in the United Kingdom for the annual
celebration, which was able to be held in-person, later than usual, after a
year of challenges presented by the ongoing pandemic. The service commenced
with a welcome by the Reverend Canon Anthony Ball, Canon of Westminster &
Rector of St Margaret’s.
In his sermon, which focused
on new beginnings, His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos, Coptic Orthodox Archbishop
of London, said:
“Today,
although a little later than usual, we celebrate New Beginnings. It is always a
good opportunity to experience new beginnings, wherever or whenever they may
occur. Some of us however fall into the romanticised view of what a good new beginning
is. We speak of the joy of a fresh start, a fresh page, and we romanticise
that; but new beginnings are, without a doubt, often difficult. There are so
many around us who are starting afresh and yet doing so with considerable
struggle.”
“We
are asked to follow in the footsteps of our Creator, Who prepared everything
for us, Who paved the way for us in His Incarnation so that we are helped as we
journey, and Who reconciles us completely as we return. Today we must think
more about others than ourselves. Let us not look at others from our own perspective,
but theirs. When we see people journeying, let us walk in their shoes, for at
least a small part of their journey, so that maybe then the complexity and
challenge of those new beginnings may be better understood. We must exercise
our generosity to those who deal with us at the personal level, to those within
our communities, and to our world at large; recognising that when we are
faithful stewards, more is given to us, so that we can be faithful over more.
So, as we gather, we pray for new beginnings and new journeys, ours and those
of others, and endeavour to do all we can for all those who may need our help
along the way.”
Messages and Addresses
followed the Service, beginning with a heartening message addressed to His
Eminence Archbishop Angaelos from Her Majesty The Queen, read by Bishop David
Hamid, in which Her Majesty wrote:
“Occasions
such as this provide an opportunity to remember all those around the world who
suffer hardship on account of their faith, especially in recent times. They
remain in our thoughts and prayers.
At
this time of reflection as you remember and honour the faithful witness and
resilience of Coptic Christians throughout the ages, I wish all in the Coptic
community a peaceful and blessed year ahead.”
The message of His Royal
Highness the Prince of Wales, read by Bishop Jonathan Clark, spoke of the importance of gathering in prayer, especially
for communities that face hardship on account of their religion or belief
around the world:
“Gathering
together is an essential part of religious and community life. It helps us feel
connected, not just at an individual level but, importantly, to something
larger than ourselves. After such a challenging year for the global community,
I am encouraged to know that the Feast of Nayrouz, the marking of the beginning
of the Coptic new Year, will be a moment to see each other in person. In
challenging times, the fact that the annual Nayrouz Service brings together so
many people from different backgrounds and walks of life alongside the Coptic
Orthodox community in the U.K. is a true symbol of solidarity and unity.”
“As
communities around the world continue to face persecution and endure dreadful
hardship for their faith, I join you today in prayer for all those who continue
to suffer injustice and religious persecution.”
In a message from the Most
Reverend Archbishop of Canterbury, read by Revd Dr Matthias Grebe, he focused
on the importance of solidarity and collaboration, saying:
“Nayrouz
or New Year, which takes place when normally the waters of the Nile rise, is a
good time both to think of transitions and of the martyrs whose transition from
death to life has so richly nourished the Church. Water can deal death and wash
away dirt, and at the same time it gives new life, just as it does in baptism.
The grace of this great sacrament is what we see displayed in the lives of the
martyrs who inspire us to live out that same grace in our lives.”
“This
is why our friendship is so important. It is not just a human friendship but a
coming together in Christ. Not only does each growth in friendship take a step
towards a more united world, but it increases Christ’s influence in the world.”
“May
all of us, united in our faith in Jesus Christ, increase in the relationship of
love He wants us to have with each other. Our prayers will be strengthened and
our witness more effective.”
The Right Honourable Boris
Johnson MP, Prime Minister reiterated the commitment of Her Majesty’s
Government to respecting religious freedom and belief, in a Message read by
Fiona Bruce MP, Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or
Belief:
“It is
heartening that you are able to gather in person again for this significant
event after such a challenging time for us all. Standing together in solidarity
to respect and advocate for one another is testament to the resilience and
character of your community.”
"As
you commemorate the lives of so many Christians and people of all faiths and
none who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their faith or belief, it is
important for us all to remember that faith and minority groups continue to
suffer persecution around the world. Respect for people of faiths is of
fundamental importance to Her Majesty’s Government.”
“I
hope that these celebrations usher in a blessed and peaceful year for the
Coptic Orthodox Church community both here in Britain and worldwide.”
Dr Ewelina Ochab, Deputy
Director of Refcemi, said in her address:
“All
over the world, people – and whole communities – are suffering from persecution
purely because of their religion or beliefs. This includes acts of violence and
even attempts to annihilate whole communities. As we observe it, such acts
are increasing globally. In the past five years alone, there have been several
cases of atrocities which meet the legal definition of genocide.
Yazidis, Christians and other religious minorities targeted by Daesh in Iraq
Rohingya Muslims and other religious minorities targeted by the Burmese
military in Myanmar. Uyghurs, Christians, Falun Gong practitioners, Tibetan
Buddhists and others targeted in China. Christians targeted by Boko Haram and
other militias in Nigeria —in all those cases, religious communities were
targeted because of their religion or belief.”
“This
is also the very reason for the establishment of Refcemi, the Coptic Orthodox
Office for Advocacy and Public Policy founded in October 2019 by His Eminence
Archbishop Angaelos. ‘Refcemi’ is the Coptic word for ‘advocate’. It speaks to
the resilience of the Coptic Orthodox community which has lived through
millennia of persecution, and in spite of these struggles, has not retracted into a state of
victimhood, but rather, has used this experience to stand and advocate for
others.”
The Baroness Cox of Queensbury
highlighted the persecution of a number of minority communities across the
world, and said in her address:
“My
message is a plea for more churches in relative comfort zones in societies such
as ours, to remember St. Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth:
‘When
one part of the Body of Christ suffers, we all suffer.’
I hope
and pray that we will be alongside in prayer with our brothers and sisters
suffering persecution in so many countries today – and remember ‘Prayer
without deeds is dead.’
Thank
you for letting me share some of the pain, the passion and the privilege of
being with our persecuted brothers and sisters. And may our prayers for them
enable us to be more worthy of the price they are paying for our faith.”
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon gave
the concluding address, raising awareness of a number of religious freedom
issues around the world, and reiterating the government’s commitment to working
in the area of Freedom of Religion or Belief:
“Next
summer, we will host an international Ministerial Conference on freedom of
religion or belief.
The
Foreign Secretary, the Prime Ministers’ Special Envoy Fiona Bruce, and myself,
are all working hard to lay the foundations for a conference that energises the
work of civil society, religious and non-religious communities, and
Governments.”
“Your Eminence,
Archbishop Angaelos, you have been a staunch ally in our shared mission to
spread understanding, respect, and friendship between religious and
non-religious communities.
I look
forward to continuing our work together, as we promote and defend equality,
inclusion and respect, at home and abroad; for everyone.”
Lord Ahmad concluded by
expressing that the greatest test of anyone’s faith is the willingness and
conviction to safeguard the faith of others.
G7 Prayer Breakfast addresses ‘State sponsored persecution: The G7 role in upholding Religious Freedom’
14 June 2021
For immediate release
His Grace the Bishop of Truro, the Rt Revd Philip Mounstephen, and His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos, Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London, jointly hosted the G7 Prayer Breakfast at St Hilary’s Church in Cornwall on 13 June 2021, featuring a keynote address from Nury Turkel, Commissioner on the United States Commission for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).
In his welcome remarks to both in-person and online attendees, Bishop Philip said:
“Welcome to Cornwall. The world’s spotlight is on this beautiful part of the world at the moment, and rightly so; particularly because of the G7 taking place just a few miles up the road. It is very appropriate that we look today at this vital international issue (of Freedom of Religion or Belief), as it were, on the fringes of the G7, so that we can continue to advocate for keeping this vital issue at the centre of the world’s political agenda where it deserves to be.”
After opening the event with prayer, His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos remarked on the importance of the ‘Independent Review into the Persecution of Christians’, led by the Bishop of Truro, saying:
“It flagged up what we all knew, that Christians around the world were persecuted, and continue to be persecuted, but it also presented the opportunity to look at this issue through a lens of Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) for all. As I always say, ‘as Christians there is nothing more un-Christian we can do than not stand for others’, even if those ‘others’ choose to decline our faith. Our Lord Himself gives us all the opportunity to reject Him.”
Archbishop Angaelos is the Founder and Director of Refcemi, the Coptic Orthodox Church Office for Advocacy and Public Policy, which was founded on the principles of advocating for others, using the unique position and experience of the Coptic Orthodox Church, which understands persecution on the basis of its Faith first-hand.
Speaking of the role of Christians to advocate, the Archbishop continued:
“What is at the very heart of this matter is that these freedoms are indeed enshrined in conventions, laws and rules, but in actual fact, are God-given, and given equally to all. So we must do all we can, as people of faith or of none, to ensure that the rights we have, or in fact, in our situation in the Coptic Orthodox Church, have been deprived of at times, are valued enough to secure them for others who are on the receiving end of persecution.”
The Archbishop went on to speak about the need for a holistic approach to combat FoRB violations worldwide, urging that actions taken must be collaborative between civil society, policy makers, religious leaders, NGOs, state actors and more.
In his keynote address, Nury Turkel thanked both His Grace Bishop Philip and His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos for hosting the event, and spoke of USCIRF’s ongoing work on the plight of people of all faiths and none suffering for exercising their right to FoRB, saying:
“During 2020, USCIRF was concerned about several governments whose actions met the statutory requirement of systematic, ongoing and egregious religious freedom violations.”
Mr Turkel went on to speak on numerous FoRB violations in a number of countries, noting various instances where rights are denied, including forced conversions, prevention of the freedom to worship, criminal cases against those falsely considered ‘extremist’ due to their religious beliefs, arrests, kidnapping, the denial of access to medical care, blasphemy charges, the dire situation of religious minority women and girls, and more.
Speaking on the ongoing plight of the Uyghur community in China, Mr Turkel said:
“Given the alarming scale of global assault on religious freedom, unilateral action is not enough. The United States must work alongside like-minded partners to protect freedom of religion or belief.”
Mr Turkel continued to suggest a number of actions that could be taken by state actors, saying:
“As we gather here on the margins of the G7, I would like to highlight some of our recommendations where there are opportunities for collective actions by G7 members…
The G7 should stand together with a firm voice to protect religious freedom at the UN and to counter efforts to undermine that system by States that egregiously violate religious freedom and other human rights.”
Following the keynote address, Dr Ewelina U. Ochab, Deputy Director of Refcemi and Co-Founder of the Coalition for Genocide Response, moderated the panel discussion on State-sanctioned violations of FoRB - discussing the situation in North Korea, Myanmar, Nagorno-Karabakh, Cuba, China, the Tigray region of Ethiopia and more.
The panel included:
•Lord Alton of Liverpool, Cross-bench peer at the UK House of Lords and patron of the Coalition for Genocide Response
•Baroness Cox, Cross-bench peer at the UK House of Lords, Founder and CEO of HART,
•Mervyn Thomas CMG, Founder President of CSW
•Michael Polak, barrister, Church Court Chambers
•Rahima Mahmut, artist, Uyghur advocate
•Dolkun Isa, President of the World Uyghur Congress
•Dr Krish Kandiah, Social Entrepreneur
•Dr Jo Smith-Finley, reader in Chinese studies at Newcastle University
Video messages were also received from Jim Shannon MP, chair of the APPG on FoRB and Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP, who urged continued action from the British government with regard to safeguarding the fundamental FoRB rights of people around the world.
Closing remarks were given by Archbishop Angaelos and Bishop Philip, who concluded the event with an inclusive prayer to cater for all those in attendance.
Derek Thomas, the Local MP for St Ives, was among those who attended the event in person, which had a limited in-person attendance capacity due to the ongoing pandemic, joined by webinar attendees comprising of members of the diplomatic corps, MPs, NGOs, advocates and members of the general public.
*ENDS*
More information:
In 2019, Bishop Philip chaired the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s independent review of the persecution of Christians across the globe. The Bishop of Truro’s Independent Review can be accessed here https://christianpersecutionreview.org.uk
Nury
Turkel, the U.S. Commissioner on International Religious Freedom, named on
Fortune's List of the World's 50 Greatest Leaders, will address the G7 Prayer
Breakfast in Cornwall on Sunday 13th June 2021, hosted jointly by the Bishop of
Truro, the Rt Revd Philip Mounstephen, and His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos,
Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London, and Director of Refcemi (The Coptic
Orthodox Office for Advocacy and Public Policy).
The
Uyghur-American lawyer and human rights advocate will deliver the keynote
address at a breakfast gathering entitled, “State sponsored persecution: The G7
role in upholding religious freedom”, followed by a panel discussion featuring
numerous distinguished guests working in the field of Freedom of Religion or
Belief.
In 2019,
Bishop Philip chaired the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s independent review
of the persecution of Christians across the globe. “Having the G7 meet here in
Cornwall provides us with the perfect opportunity to put the spotlight on this
key global issue,” says Bishop Philip. “I’m delighted to welcome Nury Turkel
here to lead us in our thinking – and to point the way forward to further
action.”
Speaking
of the relevance of this event, Archbishop Angaelos said, “Having an event that
focuses on freedom of religion or belief in the context of the G7 meeting in
Cornwall allows us the opportunity to look at the human cost of inequality and
persecution around the world. During this time I know that policy makers will
be encouraged to look at what they can do to stand for and with those most
deprived of their God-given rights, and of the human dignity we all share.”
The
meeting, hosted in Penzance, due to Covid restrictions, will be limited to an
in-person presence of 30 participants, but open to those who register for
online webinar attendance.
Coptic Orthodox Church UK Media and Communications Office
Coptic Orthodox Church (Europe) Media and Communications Office
Transcript of Address by His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos, Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London to the Church of England General Synod on 23 April 2021
Sisters
and Brothers, Christ is Risen!
While one part of the Body of Christ has
celebrated the Feast of the Resurrection of our Lord, another part, including
my own Church, prepares to go into Palm Sunday, and of course this time is
pivotal and is core.
As Christians two things automatically come to
mind. The first, is this is a celebration of our hope in the risen Lord,
and His victory to liberate us and set us free. Secondly, it is a time that we
have seen historically where Christian communities come under attack during
these most festive days. The Cross is still being carried by sisters and brothers
around the world.
Just last week we heard of the execution of a 62-year-old
Coptic Orthodox Christian, Nabil Habashi Salama, executed by ISIS in North
Sinai for building a church. 2 days ago, we commemorated the 2nd
anniversary of the Easter bombing of the churches in Sri Lanka. Yesterday
we commemorated eight years since the Archbishops of the Syriac Orthodox and
Greek Orthodox Churches of Aleppo were abducted in Syria. Today we see the
ongoing suffering of Christians in the Tigray area of Ethiopia and, as Bishop
Nick mentioned, the continued house arrest of Abouna Antonios, the Canonical Patriarch
of the Eritrean Orthodox Church. Tomorrow I will be in Coventry Cathedral with
my brother Bishop Hovakim of the Armenian Orthodox Church to mark the victims
of the Armenian genocide and the sufferings of their communities until today. At
the same time, there are ongoing religious freedom infringements against
Christians in Nigeria, Pakistan, China, North Korea and over 120
countries.
Whether we look at what St Cyril of Alexandria
said, that “The Son is Himself an advocate, both in name and in reality”, or
Nelson Mandela, who said that “The purpose of freedom is to create it for
others”, what is evident is that we are called to action.
I would like to pay tribute to Bishop Philip
Mountstephen, the Bishop of Truro, for his Independent Review, which confirmed what
we have always known; that there is systemic persecution of Christians around
the world. This must of course also be seen within the context of
persecution of other communities, including the Rohingya, the Uyghurs, and the
Bahai communities.
While our freedom is enshrined in the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, particularly Article 18, those rights are given to
us by God. Luke 4:18 speaks of our Lord being the Chief Advocate, and in that
spirit, we as the Church must continue to be custodians of those rights;
custodians of this truth and of the sanctity of life.
I was humbled to be in a room in December of
2018, with the then Foreign Secretary, His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury,
friends from Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Open Doors and Aid to the Church
In Need, where the Independent Review was announced. We understand the concept
of ‘fullness of time’. This ‘fullness of time’ was of a serving Foreign Secretary
making representation to a Prime Minister, and then approached the Archbishop
of Canterbury, who approached a Bishop of the Church of England, who then took
on this feat and was supported by NGO's and advocates; all working together. We
worked together along with the Bishop of Truro through Refcemi, our advocacy office,
to look at how we could understand and recognise the phenomenon of Christian
persecution around the world.
As the Church of England continues to be the church
for England, it will realise that it represents much more than our
national boundaries, because many people present in Britain are represented
abroad. For that reason, and as I discussed with my ecumenical colleagues
earlier today, we ask you to recognise this reality, and we commend this item to
you, so that at this time, at this moment, when we are called to act, we stand
for those less fortunate than us, and we place ourselves at their
service.
