LONDON
The freedom of belief is a fundamental human freedom “since the dawn of the time” but there is evidence of “appalling persecution” today, British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said on Tuesday.
Speaking at the Freedom of Religion or Belief conference held in London, Truss said “religion is proving to be collateral damage from (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s aggression.”
“The freedom to believe, to pray and commit acts of worship, or indeed not to believe is a fundamental human freedom and has been one since the dawn of time,” she said.
“Societies that allow their people to choose what they believe are better, stronger and ultimately more successful.”
She said: “Yet throughout history, we have seen oppressors crackdown on freedom of religion or belief in order to exert control.
“Whether it the appalling persecution of the Jewish community over centuries or Stalin trying to stamp out religion in the Soviet Union.”
“Today there is further evidence of this around the world.”
Giving various examples of persecutions by various terrorist groups around the world, Truss said: “Persecution ranges from exclusion and discrimination to forced conversion, destroying places of places of worship and targeted killings.”
Ukraine
The British foreign secretary underlined that Ukraine is “on the frontline of this struggle.”
“Vladimir Putin and his enablers claim that Russia is waging a holy war, but in truth, they believe nothing is sacred,” she said, adding that there is “growing evidence of heinous war crimes committed by Russian troops.”
She said: “Innocent civilians are having to shelter from Russia’s indiscriminate bombardment in places of worship.
“Churches, synagogues, and mosques have been reduced to rubble. Religion is proving to be collateral damage from Putin’s aggression.”
Truss added that “the UK will not rest until you prevail and until your people are free to live, believe and thrive.”
“We all want a world where people are free to believe,” she said.
Truss said since she has become the foreign secretary, she has taken a stance against anti-Semitism and continued to stand with “shocking persecution of Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang.”
“I am at the forefront of standing up for all those suffering in Ukraine including Orthodox Christians,” she said.
Truss underlined that authoritarians and oppressors feel “threatened by the freedom of religion or belief, fearing it will encourage people to think freely and question their authority.”
“We cannot allow them to win.”
The conference is hosting 500 faith, belief, government, and civil society leaders from 60 countries and aims to “boost efforts to promote freedom of religion or belief internationally.”
The event held in the central Elizabeth II Conference Hall will end on Wednesday.
Anadolu Agency website contains only a portion of the news stories offered to subscribers in the AA News Broadcasting System (HAS), and in summarized form. Please contact us for subscription options.
