Nalbandian said the government's help was important in Syria where after ten years of war and in the midst of an economic crisis, efforts are under way to rebuild destroyed churches and schools.Continue reading
A terrorist attack on a Catholic church in southwestern Nigeria killed several dozen people on Sunday as worshippers gathered on Pentecost Sunday. Hungary condemns the terrorist attack and has offered 10 million forints (25,500 euros) in emergency aid to help the Catholic community affected by the tragedy recover as quickly as possible, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced on his Facebook page.
This article was originally published on our sister-site, Ungarn Heute.
On Whit Monday it sadly once again becomes clear that “Christianity remains the world’s most persecuted religion, as seen in the terror attack committed in the Nigerian city of Owo,” that left at least 50 people dead, Szijjártó said on Facebook.
As a country that has been a Christian nation for a thousand years, Hungary has a moral duty to take action in such times, the minister said. Though it does not undo the horrors of the attack, Hungary is sending emergency aid to assist the community affected by the attack, he added.
Hungary is sending the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ondo 10 million forints in immediate aid through its Hungary Helps humanitarian scheme to contribute to the care and hospital treatment of orphans and people who lost family members in the attack, Szijjártó said.
Hungary condemns in the strongest terms the attack on the St. Francis Catholic Church, which has again proven that Christian communities have become prime targets for terrorists, he said.
Our prayers are with the bereaved families today,”
Szijjártó said.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell also commented on the terrorist attack, calling the incident “shocking.”
The European Union condemns the armed attack on a gathering at a Catholic church in the Nigerian city of Owo on Sunday night.”
The EU will continue to support Nigeria in its efforts to build sustainable peace, deepen democracy, and ensure the protection of fundamental human rights, including the right to freedom of religion or belief, the EU diplomat added.
A Catholic priest was abducted from Obangede parish in Kogi, central Kogi State, Nigeria, before the armed attack. According to reports, the faithful were waiting in vain for their parish priest, Christopher Itopa Onotu, to attend the Pentecost service, so they went in search of him. They found the rectory ransacked, and the windows and doors were broken open.
Source: MTI
Featured image via Sunday Alamba/MTI/AP
