This morning (9 January) a Federal Foreign Office spokesperson made the following comment on this subject:

“Foreign Minister Westerwelle is gravely concerned by recent reports about the plight of Christians and their increasing persecution in some parts of the world.

In today’s meeting of the Federal Cabinet he accordingly emphasized once again that protecting Christians is one of Germany’s foreign policy priorities.

Religious tolerance and pluralism is a fundamental human right. And that means Christians also have a right to protection.

Westerwelle stressed that also in future Germany’s diplomats would time and again make approaches to specific countries and regions with a view to improving life for Christians there and affording them better protection.”

Background

The Christian charity Open Doors has just published its latest World Watch List on the situation of Christians around the world.