Bishop Suriel on the Political Spot about conflict in Egypt
His Grace Bishop Suriel is from the Coptic Orthodox Church in Australia. In this interview with the ACL's Katherine Spackman he talks about the recent attacks on Copts in Egypt. Click the button below or here to listen.
MR: PNG agreement an opportunity to reset priorities and expand refugee intake
MEDIA RELEASE
For release: Tuesday, 23rd July, 2013
The Australian Christian Lobby says the Papua New Guinea arrangement is an acceptable response to the tragedy of deaths at sea as long as humanitarian concerns are met and it allows Australia to expand its refugee intake to areas of greatest need.
ACL Managing Director Lyle Shelton said there were no easy or perfect solutions to stopping the deaths at sea generated by people smugglers exploiting asylum seekers.
“This new policy hinges on a lot of complex detail which is yet to be resolved, including providing humane living conditions for asylum seekers whose claims are being processed in PNG,” Mr Shelton said.
“However, if it is successful in stopping the deaths at sea and re-settling people humanely, Australians must not be lulled into thinking that our responsibility as a nation to asylum seekers is over.
“The impasse over people smuggling has diverted both public and parliamentary attention from areas of real and pressing need.
“We must prioritise our offer of refuge to those who are proven vulnerable minorities and Syria and Egypt should be our immediate focus,” Mr Shelton said.
“Then we must look to resettle those who as a result of previous conflicts are still languishing in refugee camps – some for as long as ten years.
“There are 45 million displaced people fleeing persecution and we have a responsibility as a nation to do our part and to work with the international community to help these people regardless of whether or not the boats are stopped.
“ACL welcomes the government’s plans to increase our humanitarian intake to 27,000 and urges bi-partisan support for this. There is capacity for us to be even more generous with our humanitarian program,” Mr Shelton said.
“If people smuggling ceases, Australia will be in a position to do more to help refugees languishing in camps who had no ability to pay smugglers and any so-called PNG solution is a sensible response to people smuggling, but must be the circuit breaker that allows us to prioritise our support to those in greatest need and danger.
“In this regard Government and Opposition calls to see the Refugee Convention reviewed are timely,” Mr Shelton said.
“Its post-World War II context takes no account of the fact that people can be in equal fear of their lives from famine or natural disaster and should also be treated as refugees.”
For release: Tuesday, 23rd July, 2013
The Australian Christian Lobby says the Papua New Guinea arrangement is an acceptable response to the tragedy of deaths at sea as long as humanitarian concerns are met and it allows Australia to expand its refugee intake to areas of greatest need.
ACL Managing Director Lyle Shelton said there were no easy or perfect solutions to stopping the deaths at sea generated by people smugglers exploiting asylum seekers.
“This new policy hinges on a lot of complex detail which is yet to be resolved, including providing humane living conditions for asylum seekers whose claims are being processed in PNG,” Mr Shelton said.
“However, if it is successful in stopping the deaths at sea and re-settling people humanely, Australians must not be lulled into thinking that our responsibility as a nation to asylum seekers is over.
“The impasse over people smuggling has diverted both public and parliamentary attention from areas of real and pressing need.
“We must prioritise our offer of refuge to those who are proven vulnerable minorities and Syria and Egypt should be our immediate focus,” Mr Shelton said.
“Then we must look to resettle those who as a result of previous conflicts are still languishing in refugee camps – some for as long as ten years.
“There are 45 million displaced people fleeing persecution and we have a responsibility as a nation to do our part and to work with the international community to help these people regardless of whether or not the boats are stopped.
“ACL welcomes the government’s plans to increase our humanitarian intake to 27,000 and urges bi-partisan support for this. There is capacity for us to be even more generous with our humanitarian program,” Mr Shelton said.
“If people smuggling ceases, Australia will be in a position to do more to help refugees languishing in camps who had no ability to pay smugglers and any so-called PNG solution is a sensible response to people smuggling, but must be the circuit breaker that allows us to prioritise our support to those in greatest need and danger.
“In this regard Government and Opposition calls to see the Refugee Convention reviewed are timely,” Mr Shelton said.
“Its post-World War II context takes no account of the fact that people can be in equal fear of their lives from famine or natural disaster and should also be treated as refugees.”
Bishop Suriel on the Political Spot about symbolic attack on Christianity in Egypt
Bishop Suriel of Melbourne and Affiliated Regions talks to ACL's Katherine Spackman on the Political Spot about the latest attack on Coptic Christians in Egypt. The attack occurred at the epicentre of the International Coptic Orthodox community and is seen as a symbolic attack on Christianity in the middle east. See ACL's media release on the issue MR: ACL condemns latest attack against heart of Christianity in Middle East
Women and Christians would be losers from an Islamist Government in Cairo
Media Release
For Release: 2nd February 2011
The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) is calling on the Australian Government to step up diplomatic efforts to ensure that any transfer of power in Egypt secures the safety and rights of minorities.
Managing Director Jim Wallace said the ACL has been concerned at the loss of human rights in Egypt over the last 30 years culminating in recent bombings of Coptic Christians in Alexandria.
“Any new government should be one that protects the freedoms of all Egyptians – including the Copts and other Christians who have been under attack by Islamic terrorists.
“Islamic Governments in the Middle East, including the Government in Iraq, have a poor track record of protecting Christian minorities.
“An Islamist Government in Cairo would be a set-back for the human rights of women and Christians in the Middle East.”
Mr Wallace said ACL shares the concerns of Bishop Suriel from the Coptic Orthodox Church in Melbourne, about the potential of an extremist group taking government in the country.
“We are concerned about the Muslim Brotherhood’s intentions in positioning themselves to take over government,” he said.
“The Australian Government needs to be very active in international efforts to ensure any new Government in Egypt will be tolerant of religious minorities, including Christians,” Mr Wallace said.
For Release: 2nd February 2011
The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) is calling on the Australian Government to step up diplomatic efforts to ensure that any transfer of power in Egypt secures the safety and rights of minorities.
Managing Director Jim Wallace said the ACL has been concerned at the loss of human rights in Egypt over the last 30 years culminating in recent bombings of Coptic Christians in Alexandria.
“Any new government should be one that protects the freedoms of all Egyptians – including the Copts and other Christians who have been under attack by Islamic terrorists.
“Islamic Governments in the Middle East, including the Government in Iraq, have a poor track record of protecting Christian minorities.
“An Islamist Government in Cairo would be a set-back for the human rights of women and Christians in the Middle East.”
Mr Wallace said ACL shares the concerns of Bishop Suriel from the Coptic Orthodox Church in Melbourne, about the potential of an extremist group taking government in the country.
“We are concerned about the Muslim Brotherhood’s intentions in positioning themselves to take over government,” he said.
“The Australian Government needs to be very active in international efforts to ensure any new Government in Egypt will be tolerant of religious minorities, including Christians,” Mr Wallace said.