In a timely gathering amid ongoing global debates on tolerance and coexistence, the European Parliament hosted a conference titled “The Importance of Respecting Religious Minority Rights,” organised by MEP Georgiana Teodorescu (ECR, Romania) in collaboration with the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group.
The event brought together politicians, religious leaders, journalists, and experts to share examples of successful interfaith harmony from regions like Romania, Israel, and Kurdistan, while highlighting stark failures in places such as Gaza, the West Bank, and Syria.
Speakers emphasised the need for Europe to reclaim its foundational values to safeguard minorities and combat extremism.
Opening the conference, MEP Teodorescu praised U.S. President Donald Trump for his role in fostering peace in the Middle East, noting that Israel exemplifies equal rights for minorities.
She urged Israel’s neighbours to adopt similar standards, setting the tone for discussions on practical models of tolerance.
Fellow Romanian MEP Adrian-George Axinia highlighted Romania as a prime example of coexistence, attributing it to the nation’s 85% Orthodox Christian majority, which embodies the “golden rule” of treating others as one wishes to be treated. He argued that Europe’s best hope lies in returning to Christian visions and values.
Israeli Minister of Science and Technology Gila Gamliel underscored Israel’s commitment to diversity, where religious freedom is absolute and minorities, including Arabs who serve as Supreme Court justices, thrive. She called for ending persecution in Iran and envisioned future “Cyrus Accords” to create a persecution-free Middle East.
Michael Kleiner, President of the Supreme Court of Israel’s Likud Party, echoed praise for Trump’s peace efforts, describing widespread joy in Israel. He detailed the rights enjoyed by Israeli Arabs and Druze, the latter often aligning with Israel against fundamentalism. Kleiner criticised two-state solution advocates, claiming post-October 7, 2023, events have shifted Israeli opinion against it, with over 90% now opposing. He highlighted Israel’s support for Kurds, admiring their desire for coexistence and advocating for a Kurdish state, contrasting it with regimes in Gaza and the West Bank.
Journalist and lawyer Ariel Bulshtein focused on the plight of Christians in the West Bank and Gaza, where their numbers have dwindled dramatically – Bethlehem, once a Christian stronghold, now hosts only a remnant. He accused Islamists of targeting Christian businesses, using churches as terrorist hubs, and erasing Jewish history in Palestinian Authority textbooks. Bulshtein stressed that religious persecution endangers all and urged the international community to speak out against complicity.
Swedish MEP Charlie Weimers warned of cultural shifts in Sweden due to mass immigration from Muslim-majority countries, leading to antisemitism and opposition to Western values. He noted the Muslim population’s growth from under 2% to over 10% in 20 years, projecting 30% by 2050, and described no-go zones in cities like Malmö. Weimers highlighted threats to Jews and Christians, including Iranian agents and unchecked calls for violence, calling for deportations and a return to Judeo-Christian roots.
Cypriot MEP Geadis Geadi discussed regional instability visible from Cyprus, including missile attacks on Israel. He lamented the flight of 500,000 Syrian Christians since 2011 and the targeting of Druze, alongside Turkey’s exploitation of migration to alter Cyprus’s demographics. Geadi urged defence of Europe’s heritage.
Shafa Barzani of the Kurdistani Diaspora Confederation portrayed Kurds as champions of peaceful coexistence, with churches, mosques, and synagogues standing together under democratic principles. Despite five million Kurds in diaspora due to identity suppression, their commitment to tolerance is “written in our blood,” exemplified by a newly opened church for 1,000 people.
Ano Jawhar Abdulmaseeh Abdoka, a Christian minister in the Kurdistan Regional Government, described Kurdistan as a model: educating children in Syriac and Aramaic, supporting Christian higher education, providing housing for 720 young couples, and granting land for churches. However, he decried Islamist militias controlling Christian areas in the Nineveh Plain, calling on the EU to promote equality over extremism.
French Imam Hassan Chalghoumi celebrated the return of Israeli hostages and differentiated between spiritual Islam and political Islamism, warning of the latter’s alliance with the far left. Despite personal threats requiring police protection, he remained optimistic about Europe’s future.
Father George Vâlcu of the Romanian Orthodox Church praised Romania’s lived freedom of religion and belief (FORB), advocating for EU actions like reappointing a FORB envoy and creating a coordinator against anti-Christian hatred.
Mustafa Geihun, counsellor for Romania’s Muslim Mufti, affirmed Romania’s peaceable society but cautioned that the EU must balance pluralism with anti-extremism efforts, especially amid migration challenges, to make diversity a strength.
Italian MEP Alessandro Ciliani decried Europe’s loss of respect for religion and the EU’s ambiguous stance, emphasising Christianity’s historical centrality and the need to combat Christian persecution.
In reflections shared by MEP Teodorescu, the conference raised a pivotal question: Will Europe balance solidarity with safety? She advocated for the EU to bolster nations that respect religious minorities, as they embody true democracy. Teodorescu also highlighted the critical distinction between Islam as a religion and political Islamism, a lesson Europe is learning through hardship.
The event underscored that respecting religious minorities is not just a moral imperative but a foundation for stable, democratic societies. As Europe grapples with migration, extremism, and identity, the insights from this conference offer a roadmap for fostering genuine co-existence.
Images: Credit: ECR
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