This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only those who have signed it.
The Parliamentary Assembly remains concerned about the situation
of the persecuted Christians in the Middle East since the adoption
of its last Recommendation
1957 (2011). If it is not properly addressed, it could lead to the
disappearance – in the short term – of Christian communities from
the Middle East, which would entail the loss of a significant part
of the Christian religious heritage of the countries concerned.
The number of attacks on Christian communities rose worldwide, as
well as the number of trials and death sentences for blasphemy,
which often affect women.
One recent event was particularly tragic: on 2 November 2018,
unknown armed assailants attacked a bus transporting a Coptic Christian
pilgrimage in the vicinity of the Saint Samuel monastery, some 260
kilometres south of Cairo. According to the church, at least seven
people were killed and 14 injured, among them women and children.
The Assembly should raise its voice against these tragic facts
against Christian believers in the Middle East and call member States
of the Council of Europe to act, especially focusing on the most
vulnerable groups like women and children. As a follow-up, the Assembly
should express its serious concern about the issues addressed in
its Recommendation 1957
(2011).
