The challenge of dialogue

"Religious freedom is the key for policy inside and outside Europe; it’s a value to be upheld, regardless of the place", said MEP Jan Olbrycht, vicepresident of the European People’s Party Group (EPP) at the European Parliament, during the conference titled "Christians in the Arab World: One year after the Arab Spring" promoted by COMECE, EPP, and by the European Conservative and Reformist Group (ECR) held in Brussels on May 9. The meeting served to focus on the effects of political upheavals ongoing in Middle-Eastern countries on local Christian communities.Preoccupation. To this regard, MEPs conveyed their concern especially as relates to the respect of rights and freedoms, notably religious freedom. The Arab Spring, that is experiencing an Islamist drift, fails to respond to the expectations of democratic rebirth. "We are concerned for what is happening to Christian minorities in the Arab world", said Olbrycht, echoed by his colleague Konrad Szymanski. For the latter, "there was no relief for Christians in the Middle East with the Arab spring. Their persecution is a bitter truth that the EU cannot deny, as it cannot remain silent before the denial of the rights of other minorities". "European diplomacy has to work to obtain the respect of civil rights – demanded the MEP – the EU’s credibility also implies this commitment". "Acknowledging religious freedom is good for everyone – pointed out Mario Mauro of the EPP group -. There can be no freedom for the Arab world without freedom for Arab Christians. If freedoms like religious freedom are denied there can be no grounds for Middle Eastern Countries’ growth. Dialogue is the best way to make this happen". Christians’ presence in the Middle East isn’t only a question of numbers, as underlined by Dimyanos Kattar, formed minister of Lebanese economy: "Europe shouldn’t focus on the ever smaller number of Christians in the Middle East, it should also look into their contribution. Christians contribute 64% of tax revenue in Lebanon. If the EU shows a real interest for the Middle East then things will only get better".A dialogue of life. What is the best approach towards the Arab Spring, that some welcomed with joy and hope, and others with great fear? According to father Pierbattista Pizzaballa (Custody of the Holy Land), who took part in the COMECE seminar, "we shouldn’t generalize, showing fear or joy, nor expect an immediate transformation the part of the Arab world". It is necessary "to avoid panicking and polarizations to the advantage of dialogue, the only tool that can mitigate tensions and solve problems that shouldn’t be concealed". "For 40 years different Middle-Eastern countries were in a state of immobility and now with the Arab spring we cannot conceive immediate, serene social dynamics" said the Franciscan father, who highlighted the existence of "changes that trigger concerns, like the Constitutions that are being rewritten and in which also political parties should be included". Far from generalizing the situation in the region, it should be said that "Syria is different from Iraq, and the same applies for Egypt". It can’t be denied that tensions exist between Muslims and Christians, but they shouldn’t be separated. They should be brought together through dialogue". The invitation to dialogue "is not on themes of faith but of life", pointed out the Custody, who has been living in Jerusalem for over 20 years, in particular on the theme of "the full citizenship, as highlighted by the Synod for the Middle East. It’s important to engage in dialogue also as regards workers’ rights and freedoms. With some religious Muslims dialogue is a pleasure. There aren’t only persecutions. Let’s avoid panicking and polarizations without falling in easy irenics. Christians – he concluded – are an integrating part of these Countries. They contributed to the shaping of their identity and development. As in past, also today it’s possible for them to continue to give their contribution". A similar position was expressed shortly earlier by the Maronite archbishop of Cyprus Msgr. Youssef Soueif, for whom "all evolutions should end up in the development of individuals and of the community, and this will happen only if it takes place in the name of democracy and freedom". Speaking of the Arab Spring, the Maronite prelate underlined that "the respect of the freedom of conscience, religion, opinion, will judge what is happening. To establish these values in the Constitutions will indicate the direction taken by the movements". Christians are thus called to support a tendency to openness, not closure. Supporting violence isn’t a solution – he concluded – there can be no development without democracy, without the respect for dignity and freedom".Uniting without separating. "We cannot separate Christian communities from the neighbouring ones, we can’t improve Christians’ lives without considering the context in which they live", was the closing appeal of Msgr. Piotr Mazurkiewicz, COMECE Secretary General. "An Arab world without Christians would be a catastrophic scenario for the East and the West as it would be the end of Arab culture, incorporated by Islamic religious culture. Neither Islam nor Europe could sustain such a situation".