Prince Charles has voiced his concern for Christians in the Middle East who are being targeted by what he has described as 'organised persecution' in the region. His Royal Highness made the comments after he spoke at the Egyptian Coptic Church centre in Stevenage, and the Syriac Orthodox Cathedral in west London, where he heard accounts of Christians being murdered and families forced from their homes.
The Prince then hosted a reception at Clarence House with the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd Justin Welby, the Catholic Archbishop of Westminster, Most Revd Vincent Nichols, and Chief Rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis. Prince Charles told guests that the plight of Christians in the Middle East had now reached crisis point:
Many minority religious organisations have fled the region in the turmoil following the Arab Spring, and in Egypt particularly violence against Coptic Christians saw a marked increase after Muslim Brotherhood president Mohamed Morsi was overthrown. The Prince of Wales told guests that religion was part of the solution and not the problem, but he urged religious leaders both here and in the Middle East to present a more united front.
Christians living in the Middle East have often had a wary relationship with their Muslim neighbours. They are being reportedly driven out of regions in countries such as Syria and Iraq, where the religion first took root. After the Prince's speech, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd Justin Welby, told Premier's Political Editor Martyn Eden why he thought the situation was so complicated.
Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Church in Britain told Premier's Martyn Eden that he believes the majority of people from both faiths in the Middle East still want to live in peace with one another.
Baroness Warsi, Britain's most senior Muslim politician, said the persecution of Christians and other religious minorities is a "global crisis".
The Government is to hold a summit between Britain's major political and faith leaders to tackle the growing problem of Christian persecution across the globe.
The meeting, which is expected to take place early in the New Year, follows comments by Faith Minister Baroness Warsi, who said Christianity is in danger of 'extinction' in some countries because of the growing persecution against believers.