OSCE High-Level Meeting on Hate Crimes against Christians

Experts warn of slippery slope from intolerance and insults to discrimination and criminal incidents (Rome/Vienna 15.9.2011).

REDACCIÓN HO / E4C.- At an international meeting hosted by OSCE more than 150 politicians, experts and NGO-representatives discussed in Rome the issue of “Preventing and Responding to Hate Incidents and Crimes against Christians“. The conference was organized by the ODIHR and the representative of the OSCE Chair-Office for combating intolerance against Christians, Massimo Introvigne, one of Italy’s leading sociologists.

In his introduction the director of the ODIHR, Janez Lenarcic, expressed his concern of the growing significance of hate crimes, mentioning as an example desecrations of places of worship in several member states.

Various speakers underlined, that these incidents are embedded in a slippery slope that leads from intolerance and mocking to discrimination against Christians and hate crimes.

Metropolitan Hilarion of the Russian Orthodox Church highlighted that religious diversity is often used as an excuse to ban Christian symbols from public life: "People who ignore the religious freedom of Christians are often led by secular maximalism, which considers faith a private affair. This radical secularism is as dangerous as religious radicalism.“

Giving the example of violated parents’ rights by the Spanish government’s sexual education programmes, the number two of the Moscow Patriarchate warned European politicians: "Talking about human rights, our voice will sound better outside of Europe, if we try to respect religious freedom more strongly within our own countries.“

His vis-a-vis from the Holy See, Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, emphazised that „religious freedom cannot be restricted to the simple freedom of worship (...) but includes the right to preach, educate, convert, contribute to the political discourse and participate fully in public activities.“

Archbishop Mamberti underlined that "relativism and secularism deny two fundamental aspects of the religious phenomenon and hence of the right of religious freedom, that call for respect, the transcendental and the social dimensions of religion (...). Religion is more than just a private opinion or Weltanschauung. It always has an impact on society and its moral principles.“

Mamberti also quoted Pope Benedict XVI’s message for the World Day of Peace 2011: "At present, Christians are the religious group which suffers most from persecution on account of its faith. Many Christians experience daily affronts and often live in fear because of their pursuit of truth, their faith in Jesus Christ and their heartfelt plea for respect of religious freedom. This situation is unacceptable since it represents an insult to God an human dignity.“

Fr. Piotr Mazurkiewicz, secretary general of the COMECE, the European Bishops’ conference to the European Union, praised the work of OSCE but lamented that the European Union, including its Fundamental Rights Agency, has not yet taken up the problem of hate crimes against Christians.

The Vienna based NGO “Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians” documents incidents of intolerance and discrimination against Christians on the website www.IntoleranceAgainstChristians.eu and works closely with OSCE. “We are very glad that OSCE is so active in combating intolerance against Christians also in the West,” said representative Dr. Martin Kugler, “we are looking forward to similar meetings on a regular basis.” He continues: “It is important to note that hate crimes begin with mocking: the negative stereotyping by the media as well as the ridiculisation of Christians and Christian positions lead to hate crimes. “

“We must also not overlook the serious issues of discrimination against Christians East and West of Vienna: anti-discrimination legislation can cause discrimination of Christians, in several countries freedom of conscience is at stake, as well as parental rights with regard to the education of their children.“