Coptic Orthodox Church UK
Media and Communications Office
Coptic Orthodox Church (Europe)
Media and Communications Office
Statement on the refugee crisis
in Europe
By His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of
the Coptic Orthodox Church
in the United Kingdom
in the United Kingdom
4 September 2015
Having
seen heartbreaking images of the lifeless and abandoned body of young Aylan
Kurdi lying alone on a beach in Turkey puts an all too gruesome optic to a
matter either in the forefront or background of every mind over the past months.
The images we have now become too accustomed to seeing may have desensitised
some, but the horrific reality of the situation remains; thousands of people continue
to risk all, even their lives, to seek the safety that we are thankfully free
to live on a daily basis.
Whether
it is Aylan, his family, or the countless thousands of others making the
treacherous journey to flee conflict and find a better life, we must now
realise that the solution to this crisis is greater than for individual Churches,
religions, communities, or even states to address alone, and so a more universal,
integrated and collaborative approach to make the best of limited human and
material resources, must be sought.
The
Church of Egypt is no stranger to the issue of asylum as it was Egypt that
accepted and embraced the infant Christ and His family as refugees when they
fled targeted and intentional persecution. It is indeed telling that while the
world has apparently progressed over millennia since then, the problems and
challenges remain the same.
As
a Church with its roots in the Middle East we are very aware of the struggles
faced by people in the region, Christians and others. It is essential that the
plight of these refugees is not belittled or ignored, as they face very real
challenges in their homelands, living with a daily threat to their livelihood
and even existence.
At
a time of increasing economic pressure in Europe and a greater fear of
importing radical elements seeking to destabilise our communities, it is
understandable that caution must be exercised. Having said that however, that
caution should not mean a blanket rejection of the vast majority of those
coming who are genuinely seeking safety for themselves and their families. What
is concerning is abrasive rhetoric in the media and public sphere, leading to
the constant dehumanisation of people who are undoubtedly victims of this conflict,
to the extent that many now see them simply as an impending risk to their
communities, putting aside their basic rights and needs. What we must realise
is that many of these people, indigenous to their homelands, are not fleeing out
of choice or preference but out of sheer necessity.
This
is undoubtedly an extremely complex issue that involves geo-politics, global
economics, European economies and borders, state and regional security, as well
as an increasingly volatile Middle East, but as I have mentioned previously, we
must not be prescriptive to people living in crisis on whether or not they
should stay and fight in their war-torn countries, or flee for their lives. Whatever
their choices may be, we must advocate to either safeguard their continued
presence or provide an alternative if they cease to see a viable continuity in
their homelands.
It
is encouraging, that over the past few days there has been a greater intention
and appetite for a pragmatic and compassionate response to this increasing
refugee crisis in seeking practical solutions whatever they may be.
The
Scriptures are timeless in their direction, and when the Lord God instructs His
people to care for the widow, orphan, traveller and stranger (Deuteronomy 10:18)
that was not meant exclusively for His immediate audience alone, but to the
whole of humanity over time.
These
challenging events remind us of the brokenness of our humanity, but as
Christians we also recognise the ability of God to heal that brokenness. For
that reason, we pray confidently for solutions in the homelands of those
fleeing, the countries that may extend whatever hospitality they can, and above
all, safety for many who make these dangerous journeys out of sheer
desperation.
*Ends*
