Equal rights for Muslims and Christians

Lvov, 4 January 2012

President of Ukraine V. Yanukovych

Government representatives

Dear Mr President, dear members of the Ukrainian government,

the Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate appealed to the UN administration, EU Commissioners, the U.S. President and the Congress to guarantee equal treatment of Christians and Muslims in the EU, USA and Muslim countries. Christians are killed in masses on Muslim territories, they are expelled from their homes (see Iraq, Iran); Pakistan even imposes death penalty for the faith in Jesus Christ or possession of the Bible. At Christmas (25 December 2011), several murderous attacks against Christians took place in Nigeria, bombs exploded in six churches. In early November, 150 Christians were murdered in cold blood right in the street because they refused to renounce the faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. On 8 March 2010, a Christian village in Nigeria was attacked at three o’clock at night and all its inhabitants – including babies – were brutally killed. On 3 January 2012, Muslims in Nigeria issued an ultimatum to the Christians living in the north of the country to leave their homes within three days or they will perpetrate their genocide. Western “human rights advocates” keep silent.

The Ukrainian public was informed that a Muslim centre with a mosque for 3000 people and a minaret is to be opened in the capital, Kiev. The mass media widely advertised this Islam centre. Also the head of the UGCC information department expressed his positive view and commented on this event with enthusiasm. Ex-Card. Husar had been asked some time before how he would react if a mosque was to be built next to his residence in Lvov. His answer was: “And why not? If there are people who want it.” If it held true: we tolerate them, they tolerate us, then it would be fair. However, the reality is different.

In recent days, a shocking six-minute video has flown around the world. It shows an execution of a Christian in Somalia. Before cutting off his head, two executioners with veiled faces stand over the kneeling Christian and cynically wipe their knives on his hair. Behind them there are four other wrapped men, two of them holding machine guns and one reading the Koran in a provocative tone. After some time they throw the Christian, whose hands are tied, to the ground, one of them makes a cut into his throat and lets the blood gush out. Then another executioner comes and starts cutting off his head. At the end of that dreadful ceremony they put his head on his breast and begin to sing solemnly.

On 3 December 2011, our Patriarchate appealed to the Ukrainian President and Government to set a condition for opening a mosque in Kiev: if at least one Muslim state gives an opportunity for the local Christians to build and use a Christian centre for 3000 people, a mosque in Kiev can be provided to the Muslims for use. It is absolutely fair. May this fair gesture of the Ukrainian government become a precedent for the whole world to give equal treatment to Christians and Muslims.

Praying for You and bestowing a blessing on You

+ Elijah

Patriarch of the Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate

+ Methodius OSBMr               + Timothy OSBMr

Secretary Bishops of the BCP

See video record of the brutal cutting off of the head of a Christian:

video.mail.ru/mail/serdjio44/_vfavorites/693.html

Cc:

– MPs of Ukraine

– Representatives of the city of Kiev

– President of Russia and the Russian Duma

– Presidents of the PACE member states

– Mass media of Ukraine