PETITION FOR PERSECUTED PEOPLE PRESENTED TO BRITISH GOVERNMENT

On 14th May the Barnabas Fund presented a petition signed by 92,283 people from the UK and Europe to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.The petition expresses concern about the plight of Christian minorities who suffer discrimination and persecution, and the belief that all minorities have a right to justice irrespective of their religion. The Barnabas Fund said that the situation is growing increasingly urgent as many governments (such as Algeria, Pakistan, and Indonesia) are implementing progressively more repressive legislation, without protest from Western governments. The continuing threat of attack and the intimidation of Christian minorities has been shown by recent events in Pakistan, Egypt and Iraq.The Barnabas Fund said that, "The aim of this petition is to urge the British government to take a strong lead and act vigorously to insist that all governments ensure religious liberty and safeguard the rights of Christian and other religious minorities. The government must demonstrate that the persecution of Christians and the restriction of their religious liberty is unacceptable wherever it takes place."The same petition will be presented to other governments, including Australia and New Zealand, with the signatures of their respective citizens.

Aidan Liriano
(Jt CPF Co'Ordinator)