Christians pray for refugees and warn about “EU Compacts”

Over 65 million people have been forced to flee their homes since 2015 in what has become the biggest refugee crisis that the world has ever known.

Today, 1 in every 113 people worldwide are forcibly displaced, the majority of whom are women and children.

On the occasion of the World Refugee Day on June 20th, the European Evangelical Alliance (EEA) wants to remind our politicians and leaders of their responsibility to protect, welcome and relocate refugees and asylum seekers within the European Union.

EU COMPACTS

Under political pressure from public opinions increasingly negative with regard to migration, the Commission under its President Jean-Claude Juncker, came up with an encompassing concept of Partnership Framework Agreements, often called “Compacts.”

EU Compacts seek to reach bundles of large-scale agreements with third countries which go beyond migration and readmission. The agreements link migration and development policies with economic, cultural, educational measures.

Ahead of the European Council on June 22nd and 23rd, the EEA joined its voice to 18 other NGOs and associations to oppose the current discourse on migrations and propose alternatives to the Partnership Framework Agreements with third countries for efficient migration management.

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM THREATENED

“The worst of this is that the countries prioritised for these agreements which our government will sign, are places where human rights violations, including religious freedom, are widespread”, the EEA says.

Ans it adds: “There is a fundamental danger with the ‘reductionist’ narrative, which says that we should seek to send back as many people as possible and at all costs, even if that may mean a disregard for human rights.”

The Compacts´ aim to increase the rate of returns to countries of origin and transit, “means that people persecuted for their religion or belief, could be stuck or sent back to places known for their poor human rights records, and particularly dangerous.”

Eleven out of these 16 priority countries are in the Open Doors persecution index, especially 6 of them which are ranked in the top 10 countries with extreme persecution of Christians.

On this particular topic of religious freedom and refugees, the EEA organised an event in the European Parliament on May 31st.

REFUGEE SUNDAY

The EEA also calls on churches and individual Christians to observe the Refugee Sunday this coming June 25 and participate in prayer and action, responding in practical ways to God’s call to ‘love the stranger as yourself.’

For this particular event, the Refugee Highway Partnership and The Refugee Campaign have prepared a Refugee Sunday church pack. The pack will include a prayer guide, sermon outlines, videos and practical suggestions for churches to run a refugee-themed Sunday service.

“It is are very special occasions for churches to unite in prayer for over 65 million men, women and children forcibly displaced by persecution, violence and war. We want as Christians to intercede for them and engage in the resolution of this crisis”, the organisers say.

Using the hashtags #WorldRefugeeSunday and #WorldRefugeeDay, Christians can share about their activities on social media and inspire others to join.