Dave Thompson MSP

Dave Thompson MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch used a recent Members Business Debate in the Scottish Parliament to bring forward a motion; “Highlighting the Plight of Persecuted Christians”, which received cross party support in the chamber.

As well as drawing attention to the numerous examples of Christian persecution around the world, Mr Thompson took the time to highlight that regardless of religious persuasion, the Parliament has a common desire for Scotland to be seen as a fair-minded country —free from religious, racial and other intolerances and for that he is thankful.

He went on to say that despite their being examples of Christian persecution in Muslim countries, that Islam is not a threat and expressed his solidarity with all persecuted people, no matter their religion.

Commenting on the debate Mr Thompson said: “A significant number of people, including myself, in Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch - hold their religion dear. We are fortunate that we are able to practise our faith without fear of retribution, whatever that faith may be, and for that we should thank God”.

Dave went on: “It is important to recognise that not all Christians have the freedom to express their religion in a way that many in our country take for granted, so for those facing persecution we should not only pray, but we should highlight issues of persecution and intolerance where and when we find them”.

He followed on: “I hope that by bringing this motion to bear we are a little bit closer to understanding the scale of the problem we face in the world today and closer still to doing something about it”.

He finished with: “As the convener of the Christians for independence group, it is important to me that we condemn those who persecute others for expressing their religion and this is why I will be campaigning to enshrine in Scotland’s new constitution the right for people to have and express faith, and the right to have no faith in an independent Scotland”.

Notes:

Dave’s motion is noted below:

Heard August 6 - S4M-10093

That the Parliament condemns the escalating persecution of Christians in certain countries; further condemns any form of religious persecution against all faiths and none; recognises that there is very little such persecution in Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch; supports those people and organisations that work toward removing religious intolerance from society; notes calls for the matter to be highlighted across Scotland and for concerns to be raised about the discrimination of minorities across the world, and understands that the Scottish Government will raise these issues wherever it can and that, as a good global citizen, Scotland will support the right to religious freedom and assist where possible in ending any oppression of religious minorities.

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx?SearchType=Advance&ReferenceNumbers=S4M-10093&ResultsPerPage=10

Dave’s Speech is noted below:

Dave Thompson (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP): As a Christian, it pleases me greatly that the motion has achieved cross-party support and that it can be debated today. It also reassures me as a person that, regardless of religious persuasion or party affiliation, the Parliament has a common bond that unites us all. That bond is a desire that Scotland be seen as the fair-minded country that we are—free from religious, racial and other intolerances. I want our country to be recognised as one that will stand up to prejudice wherever it rears its head, whether at home or abroad.

I recognise that, as a Parliament, we are all pulling together in the same direction, which fills me with an enormous sense of satisfaction. However, it is all too easy to indulge ourselves with words of fairness; it is harder to do something about prejudice in the world. The Scottish Churches Parliamentary Office made a telling point in its briefing ahead of the debate. It said:

“The churches in Scotland are aware that Christianity has been a source of persecution in times gone by and it is in acknowledgement of this that we are committed to acting and praying for peace around the world.

The SCPO went on to say that

“Although many high profile examples in the news today speak of Christians facing discrimination in predominantly Muslim societies, we do not see Islam as a threat or a problem ... and last year’s Assembly of the Conference of European Churches expressed solidarity with Christians and Muslims facing violence in North Africa and the Middle East—calling them ‘sisters and brothers’.

On 15 May in Sudan, Meriam Yehya Ibrahim, 26 years old and eight months pregnant, was sentenced to death by hanging for apostasy, and to 100 lashes for adultery. Her crime was that she was unwilling to renounce her Christian faith. It is great news that, after a period of intense pressure on the Sudan minister of justice by Amnesty International, and general denunciation of Ibrahim’s detention by countries around the world, she has been released. That was a very serious case in which persecution on religious grounds was all too clear, and it should never have happened.

It is not just in Sudan that there are examples of Christians being persecuted. North Korea has become one of the most difficult places on earth for Christians to live. Christians are classified as “hostile”, and face arrest, detention and torture, or even public execution. There is a system of labour camps, including the renowned prison number 15, which is thought to house at least 6,000 Christians. The oppression of Christians there is continuing to grow.

In Iraq, there are terrifying reports that Christians are being targeted in Mosul by Isis militants and that many Christians are fleeing the region. The fundamentalists are giving Christians the grim choice of converting to Islam, paying a non-Muslim tax or facing death. In parts of the middle east including Saudi Arabia and Iran, Christian churches are outlawed, with Christians being persecuted and even condemned to death.

However, that type of scenario is not reserved solely for the middle east. In China, the Government has been ordering the demolition of Christian churches and there are reports that Christians who resist demolitions have been beaten, which has resulted in many people being hospitalised. As if that were not bad enough, in May this year a campaign was started to outlaw Christian church gatherings in homes and private dwellings.

This year alone in Nigeria, according to the advocacy group Jubilee Campaign, Islamist extremists Boko Haram and others have killed thousands of Christians for their faith.

There are numerous examples of Christians around the globe being persecuted and killed for their beliefs. What can we do? Well, Christians live out what they believe about God. We see in Proverbs that a Christian should be active in standing up for what is right, in rescuing those who are perishing, and in defending those who are poor and in need. Proverbs, chapter 31, verses 8 to 9 says:

“Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy”.

For the Christian, apathy and abdication are to be replaced by the active pursuit of justice.

According to recent census results, more than half of Scotland’s population identifies as Christian. A significant number of people in my constituency—Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch—hold their religion dear. We are fortunate in being able to practise our faith without fear of retribution, and for that we should thank God.

As convener of the Christians for independence group, I want a Scotland that condemns the persecution of people who express their religion, whether it happens at home or abroad. I want a Scotland that values people of faith and which unites, rather than divides, along religious lines; a Scotland that is welcoming to all; a Scotland that is international in outlook; and—this is important—a Scotland that enshrines in its constitution the right to have and express faith and the right to have no faith.

More than that, I want an outward-looking Scotland that will provide a safe haven for people who flee religious and other forms of persecution. I hope that that will be the mark of Scotland as a good global citizen.

I look forward to hearing the minister’s response.

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28862.aspx?r=9439&mode=html#iob_84856