EU appoints Irish politician to promote religious freedom

Mairead McGuinness has been named as the European Union’s new Special Envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) outside the EU.

A former journalist and broadcaster, McGuinness was first elected to the European Parliament in 2004. Her previous roles include parliamentary Vice-President and Commissioner for financial services. Last year, the veteran politician withdrew as Fine Gael’s candidate in Ireland’s presidential election due to ill health.

Among other tasks, the Special Envoy is mandated to establish “a dialogue with national authorities and other stakeholders” where FoRB “violations occur” and engage with the Council and Parliament on FoRB issues.

‘Work to be done’

Welcoming McGuinness’ appointment, Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee said: “Protecting and promoting human rights, including freedom of religion or belief, is a key part of Ireland’s foreign policy.” She added: “Ireland strongly condemns all forms of persecution based on religion or belief.”

Bert-Jan Ruissen MEP, co-chair of the EP’s Intergroup on Freedom of Religion or Belief, noted that “there is significant work to be done for the EU Special Envoy worldwide”.

This included, he continued, addressing “the serious violence and persecution that Christians in Nigeria and surrounding countries face, the situation of religious minorities in Syria, or the anti-conversion laws in Pakistan and India”.

Shocking report

Tánaiste Simon Harris has expressed his support for religious liberty, both abroad and at home.

Harris’ remarks came in an exchange with Peadar Tóibín TD during a debate in the Dáil, in which the Deputy cited a report on the state of religious freedom globally by Aid to the Church in Need.

Tóibín said the charity’s report made for “shocking reading” and pointed to its estimate “that two thirds of the world’s population live in countries where practising their faith can cost them their livelihoods, their freedom and their lives”.

Thanking the Deputy for raising the issue, Harris said: “Religious freedom matters. It matters in our own country too.”