EU: Europe has a decisive role to play in the future of Christians in the Middle East
Speech at the conference “The Future of Kurds and Christians in the Middle East” hosted by Romanian MEP Georgiana Teodorescu (European Parliament, 6 May 2026)
By MEP Geadis Geadi for Human Rights Without Frontiers
HRWF (07.06.2026) – For centuries, Christians have been an integral part of social, cultural, and spiritual life in the Middle East.
However, today these communities face serious challenges from the actions of extremist Islamic terrorist groups.
Wars, political instability, economic crisis, and religious extremism have dramatically affected the lives of millions of people.
In countries such as Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon, many Christians have been forced to flee their homes in search of safety and better living conditions.
As a result, historic communities that have existed for nearly two thousand years are at risk of shrinking or even disappearing, a fact that poses one of the greatest challenges: the decline of the Christian population in the Middle East.
We cannot ignore that in certain regions, Christians continue to face discrimination or restrictions on their freedom of religious expression.
Terrorist organizations and fanaticism have left deep scars, particularly over the past decade.
However, despite the difficulties, Christians in the Middle East continue to show remarkable resilience. They continue to preserve their traditions, language, faith, and cultural heritage.
Furthermore, the persecution and discrimination faced by Christians in Turkey cannot be ignored.
The so-called “foreign agents” legislation and broader restrictions on religiousfreedoms are also reflected in recent European Parliament resolutions.
This is not an isolated phenomenon, but part of a pattern, as we have seen in actions such as the conversion of the historic Orthodox cathedral of Hagia Sophia into a mosque and the continued restrictions preventing the reopening and proper functioning of the Theological School of Halki.
Without security and justice, no community can survive; therefore, we must safeguard peace and political stability in the region, while respecting human rights and religious freedom for all citizens.
Therefore, Europe has a decisive role to play in the future of Christians in the Middle East.
Since many believe that the Middle East is far from European borders, let me remind you once again that the missile attack on Israel was visible to the naked eye from Cyprus, while a drone from Islamic terrorist organizations struck Cyprus.
In closing, I would like to emphasize that the Christians of the Middle East are part of the history of humanity. The protection of Christianity is imperative, not only for the Middle East but for the entire world.
In this regard, I would like to recall the amendment we tabled during the previous plenary session regarding the introduction of the term “Christianophobia,” which aimed to protect Christians and combat all forms of hate against them. Unfortunately, it was rejected by votes from the EPP, S&D, Renew, Greens, and Left.
Further reading about FORB in the EU on HRWF website
