02/01/2011 President
"I am deeply shocked by the attack against a Christian church in Alexandria (Egypt), which caused the death of at least 21 people and wounded many others. I extend my sincere condolences to the families of those dead as well as to the authorities of Egypt. Terrorism remains the greatest threat to the universal values of human rights," said PACE President Mevlüt Çavusoglu.
"As the Assembly stated recently, the manipulation of religious beliefs for political reasons violates human rights and democratic values. The Statute of the Council of Europe defines as a priority to work for freedom of religion, while combating religious intolerance and discrimination as well as religiously disguised attacks against the values it upholds."