German Bundestag, Plenarprotokoll 19/202,
25344-25345.
Right honorable Herr President. Right honorable members.
Dear citizens.
“As they have persecuted me, so shall they also persecute
you.” What Jesus prophetically announced has long since become a bitter reality
for over 260 million persecuted Christians in over 50 states worldwide. Yet not
only in Nigeria and Pakistan are Christians exposed to assaults. Even with us
in the middle of Germany, a terrifying anti-Christian hostility is spreading.
Though we are far removed from the situation in Pakistan, yet we of the AfD
say: Restrain the beginnings.
From 2010 to April 2019 alone, there have been 1,731 cases
of attacks on churches, on Christian cemeteries and institutions and damages
thereto. In almost 90 percent of the cases, the perpetrator could not be determined.
It is difficult to say which is more frightening: These acts of barbaric
violence or the spreading intolerance against Christians which prepares the
ground for them.
To name only a couple of present cases: The Armenian bishop
here in Germany has warned that the Armenian Christians are becoming targets of
the Gray Wolves, those of the Turkish-nationalist, Islamist organization. It is
a disgrace for Germany that in the middle of Germany something like that is possible.
In Berlin, an investigative procedure was initiated by the
state attorney against a believing Christian, Frau Park, on account of alleged
homophobia. The basis: She had cited the Bible in the show window of her
tavern. This investigative procedure was in fact meanwhile discontinued.
Michael Grosse-Brömer (CDU/CSU): Exactly!
Nevertheless, if as a Christian alone, the citation of Holy
Scripture thereby comes within the purview of the criminal prosecutorial
authorities, then something is rotten in the state of Germany.
Kai Gehring (Greens): The Basic Law applies overall in Germany!
That applies also and certainly for Christian converts here
among us in Germany. Many asylum applicants who have converted to Christianity,
who express criticism of Islam, will be threatened with brutal violence, even
in my south Thüringen
constituency where the initial reception center in Suhl is located. All too
often in Germany, there is shelter for the perpetrator but persecution for the
victim.
We need a Federal commission for anti-Christian hostility which in a yearly report will observe and analyze the situation, yet also propose preventative measures against anti-Christian hostility,
Michel Brand (CDU/CSU-Fulda): Markus Grübel, he does that well!
in cooperation with an independent panel of experts as well as human rights organizations.
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake
With these words of Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount, I
wish you all a blessed and reflective Christmastime.
Many thanks.
[trans: tem]
