Figel: Slovakia should do more for religiously persecuted around world

The EU's Special Envoy for the Promotion of Freedom of Religion or Belief Outside the EU, Jan Figel, is of the opinion that Slovakia should do more for persecuted people around the world. He gave his statement to the TASR press agency on the occasion of the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief on August 22. Figel further said that Slovakia could develop this kind of help within the Visegrad Four, including Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary as well. Figel noted that the House was set to hold a vote on support for religious freedom in September. "This agenda isn't about supporting religions, but freedom of thought, conscience and religion," he said. Figel pointed to the genocide of Yazidis, Christians and other minorities in Iraq five years ago. More than 200 mass graves of the victims of this tragic event have been unearthed since then. Another, specific dramatic event, he stated, is the situation faced by the Rohingya people in Myanmar and those of religious minorities in Pakistan, India and several African countries.