Dear President,
In May of this year, among the national flags hanging outside the European Parliament premises in Brussels, one symbolising the LGBT movement was displayed for some time on the occasion of the International Day Against Homophobia. While I have opposed that decision, I understand that it has also created a precedent that would allow for different groups to be promoted or recognised among the level of Member States. Therefore, I would like to ask you to take a similar decision to raise a flag for the group currently facing the fiercest and most severe forms of persecution: the Christians. As I am sure you are aware, despite constituting over 30% of Earth’s population, according to World Watch List, 215 million Christians experience high levels of intimidation and persecution. Statistically, every month 255 Christians are killed, more than 100 are abducted, and 66 churches around the world are attacked or assaulted.
This is an ongoing trend, which, unfortunately is not adequately recognised or addressed by the European Union. Sunday 4 November 2018 is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. On this occasion, I would like to ask you to raise the flag of persecuted Christians on one of the masts outside the European Parliament in Brussels for one week in November. The flag shows a single Arabic letter N (for “Nazarenes”, name used for Christians in the first centuries after Christ). Nowadays it is widely being used by the oppressors to mark Christianhouses. An example has been attached to this letter. I strongly believe that such a gesture of solidarity with the most persecuted religious group will put the European Parliament in a positive light and show that, as an institution, it is willing to support all those who are facing torture or death in defence of their beliefs
