Scottish MSP pledges support to persecuted Christians

MSP Clare Adamson

MSP Clare Adamson has given her backing to a campaign of solidarity with persecuted Christians spearheaded by a leading Catholic charity in Scotland. The Scottish National Party member for Central Scotland stated her support for Aid to the Church in Need’s Solidarity Campaign – which at a time of increased Christian persecution is calling on Scots to stand up for religious freedom.

In a statement to ACN, Clare Adamson MSP said: “The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 18 states that ‘Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.’

“I fully support this article and commend ACN and other human rights organisations who highlight and campaign against religious persecution of all faiths wherever it occurs in the world.”

Describing the charity’s Solidarity Campaign, Lorraine McMahon, ACN Head of Operations in Scotland, said: “Aid to the Church in Need recognises that religious freedom is a human right and as such is asking all of Scotland, not just religious people, to pledge their support.”

Of particular concern to ACN is the situation in Iraq and Syria where ISIS, now calling itself Islamic State (IS), has carried out killings and abductions. After seizing Mosul last June, IS militants told Christians and other religious minorities to “convert to Islam, pay a fine, or face death by the sword.”

Before 2003, there were up to 1.5 million Christians living in Iraq. Local bishops have estimated that fewer than 300,000 remain.

Baron Johannes Heereman, executive president of ACN (International), who visited Iraq last year, called on the world to act to keep Christians and other religious minorities in Iraq: “If we do not want to be silent witnesses to the last chapter of the history of Christendom in Iraq, the international community must respond decisively now.”

ACN’s Lorraine McMahon said: “Christians in the Middle East need our help like never before. Iraqis have experienced much conflict and political turmoil but this year the Islamic State threatens to undermine the very existence of Christianity in this region.”

Ms McMahon added: “Sadly the situation in the Middle East is not an isolated incident of persecution and loss of religious freedom for Christians. The Solidarity Campaign aims to raise awareness in Parliament, in the media and among the general public about the existence and scale of Christian persecution worldwide.”

Source: ACN