Speaking in Seanad Eireann today, Wednesday 19th January 2011, Dick Roche TD, Minister for European Affairs expressed his concern at the recent murders of many Christian people in Nigeria, Pakistan, Iraq and Egypt.

Minister Roche said that the growth of religious intolerance, including instances of Christianophobia, Islamophobia and anti-Semitism and in particular at the recent attacks in Nigeria, Pakistan, Iraq and Egypt is something that is unacceptable and that Ireland will continue to work for the eradication of all forms of religious intolerance at both the international and national levels in order to protect all people from the threat of violence.

The Christmas Eve bombings in Jos, Nigeria, which claimed 80 lives, are widely believed to have been the work of Boko Harem, an Islamic fundamentalist group which has in recent months been increasing its activity in the north of the country.  A number of Muslim religious leaders have publicly condemned the bombings.

Although the violence in and around Jos has been predominantly between Christians and Muslims, it seems the root causes are not sectarian.   

Rather the causes of the violence are deeply rooted and involve complicated ethnic and land issues.  Continued efforts by the State and Federal governments to address the root causes will be required if recurrences of the violence are to be prevented.  (The violence has been frequently condemned by religious leaders on both sides, who play an active role in trying to resolve the ongoing crisis).

In the past year, the Irish Embassy in Nigeria has provided financial assistance to a number of aid projects in Jos. These projects included the distribution of basic relief aid to displaced persons, and to a training project which aims to help communities address issues without resorting to conflict.

The promotion of religious tolerance is a key objective in our bilateral and European Union relations with Pakistan.  Minority and human rights issues were discussed at political consultations held with Pakistan in Islamabad during February last year. A senior official of the Department of Foreign Affairs also discussed this issue recently with the Pakistani Ambassador.

For its part, the Pakistani Government has given clear commitments to the European Union to work to combat extremism, protect religious minorities and promote religious tolerance. The work of the independent national Human Rights Commission of Pakistan is welcomed, especially its public position on the obligation of the State to protect the lives of all citizens in Pakistan, including members of religious minorities.

Ireland will continue to work closely with our EU and international partners to secure respect for the human rights of all minorities in Pakistan. The recent assassination of the Governor of Punjab province, Mr. Salman Taseer, serves to highlight the difficulties faced by those working to secure progress on these issues in Pakistan.

The Minister went on to say that he is gravely concerned about the horrific attacks against defenceless worshippers at Our Lady of Salvation Church in Baghdad on 31 October and at the Coptic Church of the Saints in Alexandria on New Year’s Eve.

The deplorable attacks on 18 and 19 January against Iraqi security forces which killed more than 60 people and wounded many more, most of whom were police recruits intent on improving security for all Iraqis were also condemned by Minister Roche.

This issue is about protecting the right of all citizens in Iraq, Egypt and elsewhere to worship and to live their daily lives without fear of violence. Muslims as well as Christians and other religions have been killed in these terrorist attacks.

Groups such as Al Qaeda in Iraq who carry out these attacks are bent on destabilising the countries in which they operate and imposing a religious totalitarianism. Ireland, together with the EU, is committed to ensuring that such efforts to fragment and undermine pluralistic and democratic states do not succeed.

Minster Roche stated that governments should be penalised for the actions of the violent few. Rather efforts should be made to help governments such as Iraq and Egypt, which after all are the main forces for stability and peace in those countries today. The formation of a new government in Iraq in December 2010 was an important step in the democratic development of a pluralistic Iraq in which Iraqi Christians, Muslims and people of other religions can peacefully co-exist. I strongly endorse the statement of the EU High Representative Ashton on 21 December welcoming the formation of the new government and pledging the EU’s continued support to Iraq in its efforts to reconstruct the country and to build and consolidate its democratic political system.

An Italian ‘food for thought’ paper to promote freedom of religion and related counterterrorism measures is due to be considered at the European Union Foreign Affairs Council on 31 January 2011. This paper is very welcome because it highlights the concern that we all share on freedom of religion or belief, including deplorable recent attacks on innocent worshippers. The Italian paper makes several detailed proposals which this Government will examine carefully in cooperation with European Union partners.

Ireland has been working closely with European Union partners over the past number of years on the issues surrounding freedom of religion or belief. In 2009, the European Union General Affairs and External Relations Council issued Council Conclusions on freedom of religion or belief. These conclusions reaffirmed the strong commitment of the European Union to the promotion and protection of freedom of religion or belief. They recognised that this freedom as one of the fundamental freedoms and the beliefs of persons belonging to religious minorities, as well as non-theistic and atheistic beliefs. In these European Union Council Conclusions, it was underlined that States have a duty to protect everyone - including persons belonging to minorities - from discrimination, violence and other violations.

States must ensure that their legislative systems provide adequate and effective guarantees of freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief to all without distinction. Since the adoption of these European Union Council Conclusions, Ireland has been working continuously with EU partners to implement them in a meaningful way.

Ireland and the EU have also been active on these issues at the multilateral level; Ireland has actively supported resolutions on the elimination of religious intolerance at the UN Human Rights Council and at the UN General Assembly. At the most recent session of the UN General Assembly in October and November 2010, the European Union brought a resolution on the elimination of all forms of intolerance and of discrimination based on religion or belief. Ireland co-sponsored this initiative, which passed by consensus. This consensus adoption represents a very positive development in terms of discussion of this issue at the United Nations.

In March 2009, at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Ireland co-sponsored a draft resolution on "Discrimination based on religion or belief and its impact on the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights" which reaffirmed the right to freedom of religion or belief. In June 2010, at the Human Rights Council, the European Union successfully proposed a draft resolution on the issue of freedom of religion or belief. Ireland also co-sponsored this draft resolution.

Ireland will continue to actively support freedom of religion or belief across our foreign policy.