Brussels, Belgium, Oct 26, 2016 / 23:08 pm
The genocide of Yazidis and Christians in the Middle East and the refugee crisis should be a priority for Europe, the EU special envoy for religious freedom has said.
Jan Figel told CNA that even though "there many other places where religious freedom is liquidated, discriminated and oppressed," the Middle East is an unavoidable focus.
"It is evident that what it is going on the Middle East affects the rest of the world," he said at a media symposium organized by Alliance Defending Freedom International in Brussels.
Figel, a Slovak who served as EU Commissioner for Education from 2004 to 2009, was chosen to be the union's special envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion or belief outside the European Union. The position is an observer role and has a one-year term.