Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

A number of people and organisations have been on to me about the persecution of Christians throughout the world. In Ireland, it is often said we are not a tolerant society, but by and large, we respect the constitutional right of people to practise their religion. In countries such as Syria, Iran, Iraq and Turkey, and many parts of Africa that are predominantly Muslim, with which I do not have a problem, the persecution of Christians is a huge issue. I am not talking about the Catholic ideology. It could be Protestant, Methodist, Presbyterian and other denominations of Christianity where Christ is the centre of their adoration and adulation.

It particularly bothers me that recently in Syria, a bishop from a Christian minority was taken out and shot. In Turkey, which is primarily an Islamic country - that is fair enough, that is their view - their tolerance for Christianity and any Christian churches is seriously absurd. None the less, there is a huge lobby, led particularly by the Americans, that Turkey should join Europe as an extension to the EU. While this Christian persecution goes on, we should have grave reservations. Organisations such as Church in Chains and others have raised this. They have met the Turkish ambassador to Ireland and tried to explain this to him. Turkey is a Muslim country with about 80 million people. I remember being at a diplomatic conference in which the Americans wanted Turkey to join Europe. Is that because it is a useful centre between Iran, Iraq, the Middle East and the Far East in which the Americans can have a European base?

If it happened in this country that a Muslim or any other minority religion was being abused, there would be great controversy. I am not in any way a holy Joe, but in many countries across the world, including in Africa, Asia and in places like Syria, Iran, Iraq and Turkey, there is ongoing persecution of Christians. People who purport to be of a Christian denomination and who support the view that Christ was a saviour on Earth will be crucified, to use the pun.

With St. Patrick's Day coming up, we should be sending the message around the world that in Ireland, the freedom to practise religion is the norm and that other countries should respect our views as well.