They are a fundamental right that not only guarantee the dignity of every person, but also contribute to the security of the EU itself, reminds MEP Miriam Lexmann.
„Totalitarianism, extremism, or persecution destabilize entire regions and expose the Union to security challenges. This is also why the EU must actively advocate for the support of religious freedom within and outside of it. Religious freedom and the protection of human dignity continue to be one of my priorities in the service I perform in the European Parliament,“ explains MEP Miriam Lexmann (EPP/KDH) her attitude and values, which are guided not only in her work.
At the end of January, together with her parliamentary colleague Peter van Dalen, she presented a report by the Open Doors organization called World Watch List, which presents the most up-to-date information on the persecution of Christians in the world. Every year, Open Doors has approximately 4,000 collaborators who provide verified first-hand information from all over the world. It remains a painful fact that more than 360 million believers around the world are being persecuted or discriminated against today.
Dabrina Bet Tamraz, who comes from a Christian family from Iran, herself went through prison and other hardships, spoke to the participants at the event. Today, from exile, he tries to help those who live under an increasingly draconian regime.
During the presentation of the World Watch List report by Open Doors in the European Parliament.
The report was published at the time of the approaching 35th anniversary of the Candle Manifestation, when people in Slovakia took to the streets to peacefully express their disapproval of the lack of freedom and restriction of human rights by the totalitarian regime.
„Also based on our own experience with totalitarianism, I acted for a long time regarding the appointment of a special envoy for the support of freedom of religion or belief outside the EU. Since his appointment, I have been trying to ensure that he has a strong mandate and all the necessary means to perform this office,“ recalls Lexmann, one of the successfully implemented solutions.
In her speech, she also drew attention to the fact that totalitarian regimes are beginning to use new forms of suppression of religious freedom. For example, China terrorizes its own citizens through surveillance with the help of artificial intelligence. In addition, through its dominant position in international organizations such as the UN, it attempts to redefine the principles on which the protection of human rights is built. As a shadow rapporteur for multilateralism, she therefore points out and suggests several ways in which we can stop this trend.
Photo source: Office of Miriam Lexmann
