Written answers

Wednesday, 20 April 2016

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Religious Persecution

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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394. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the European Union, in conjunction with the United Nations, continues to focus on the activities of ISIS, with particular reference to the persecution of Christians and others of different religious beliefs; if a co-ordinated effort is emerging in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7720/16]

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Ireland condemns all forms of persecution on the basis of religion or belief, irrespective of where they occur or who the victims are. We attach great importance to combatting all forms of discrimination and incitement to religious hatred. With our EU partners, we consistently press for effective action to counter the persecution of minorities in all relevant international fora, including at the United Nations General Assembly and the United Nations Human Rights Council. Our approach is informed by the EU Guidelines on Freedom of Religion adopted during Ireland's EU Presidency in 2013 and by the EU Action Plan for Human Rights and Democracy 2015-19 which, at Ireland's instigation, includes a reference to the promotion of freedom of religion or belief.External action to prevent and counter terrorism has been discussed regularly by the EU Foreign Affairs Council. An EU Counter Terrorism Strategy for Syria and Iraq, was approved by the FAC in October 2014 and an outline of this was subsequently made public.

Further discussions took place at the FAC in January and February 2015. At our 9 February meeting we reiterated the EU’s support for swift implementation of relevant UN Security Council Resolutions in full compliance with international law, fundamental values and international human rights standards. We highlighted the need to step up EU external action and to that end, agreed to pursue initiatives in five broad areas. These concerned strengthening partnerships with key countries in the Middle East and North Africa and with regional bodies such as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation; supporting capacity building in those countries; countering radicalisation and violent extremism; active engagement with international partners and organisations; and addressing underlying factors and crises. We must address these underlying causes and through diplomacy seek to resolve the crises that contribute to the terrorism threat. In the absence of comprehensive political solutions, our efforts to combat terrorism will be in vain.

EU Foreign Ministers have welcomed initiatives to facilitate interfaith dialogue, have invited the EU Special Representative for Human Rights to continue efforts to defend and advocate freedom of expression, religion and belief particularly in the MENA region, and we have agreed that the EU will continue to work with faith-based organisations.

During the past year, Ireland has reiterated its commitment to defending the right to freedom of religion or belief on many occasions. I highlighted the alarming rise in attacks on Christians when I addressed the UN General Assembly in New York in October 2015 and during my meeting with the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, in May 2015. At the UN Human Rights Council in September 2015, Ireland made a number of statements in which we condemned DA’ESH’S barbarous treatment of civilians, their campaign of violence against religious and ethnic minorities in Syria and Iraq, and their treatment of women and girls, including their being subjected to harrowing acts of sexual and physical violence and to sexual slavery. Ireland also delivered a statement addressing the importance of freedom of religion or belief during an interactive dialogue at the thirty-first session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in March 2016. Ireland will continue to raise the issue of the persecution of Christians through its engagement at the United Nations and as part of EU efforts to support and promote freedom of religion or belief.

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