Slovak MEPs appeal to help Christians in Middle East

Slovak MEP Branislav Skripek and his colleagues on Friday appealed to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to address the security situation faced by Christians in the Middle East.

The MEPs demanded in a letter that a resolution of the UN Security Council be adopted with the aim of protecting Christians and other minorities in the conflict-ridden zone.

The authors pointed to the "disastrous situation faced by Christians in the Middle East," stating that the inhabitants of the region were living under a constant threat to their lives from Islamic State (IS) terrorists.

"I saw the situation with my own eyes during my working visit to areas in Iraq and Syria. Despite this, people aren't giving up. They've begun to build their own democratic self-governance and to combat IS fighters actively," said Skripek, adding that the people concerned needed international assistance vis-a-vis protection from atrocities committed by IS. The letter was signed by MEPs from a European Parliament working group that addresses the situation faced by Christians in the Middle East.