Prince of Wales warns of growing threat to Christianity in Middle East

ACN National Director, Neville Kyrke-Smith with HRH The Prince of Wales

Addressing Eastern faith leaders, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Westminster, Most Rev Vincent Nichols, and representatives of different faiths at an Advent Reception at Clarence House, HRH The Prince of Wales called upon Christians, Muslims and Jews to unite in "outrage" over deliberate attacks on Christianity in the Middle East by fundamentalist Islamist militants.

He said: "For 20 years, I have tried to build bridges between Islam and Christianity and to dispel ignorance and misunderstanding. The point though, surely, is that we have now reached a crisis where the bridges are rapidly being deliberately destroyed by those with a vested interest in doing so, and this is achieved through intimidation, false accusation and organised persecution, including to Christian communities in the Middle East at this present time."

He warned that the world is in danger of losing something "irreplaceably precious" as communities that trace their history back to the time of Jesus are threatened.

Prince Charles is a long-standing advocate of religious freedom and in disussion with Aid to the Church in Need and other organisations His Royal Highness demonstrated his real understanding of the issues and expressed his compassion and concern for his "brothers and sisters in Christ".

To read his full speech: www.princeofwales.gov.uk/media/speeches/speech-the-prince-of-wales-advent-reception-christians-the-middle-east

To see media commentary:

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/prince-charles/10524211/Christianity-beginning-to-disappear-in-its-birthplace-warns-Prince-of-Wales.html

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25426155