György Hölvényi, a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Hungary’s co-ruling Christian Democrats (KDNP), has strongly condemned the attacks against Nigerian Christians, categorizing them as clear instances of persecution.
During a plenary debate on Wednesday in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, the MEP made the remarks while addressing the attacks over Christmas.
Hölvényi expressed deep concern over the raids, brutal killings, and attacks on churches during Pentecost and Christmas Eve in Nigeria, asserting that such acts could only be interpreted as persecution of Christians.
He criticized the ideological blindness of some European decision-makers, arguing that their insensitivity to human suffering, particularly among Christians, makes the affected communities even more vulnerable.
During the debate, the Hungarian MEP highlighted the lack of substantive reaction from the European External Action Service and emphasized the urgent need for the West to protect persecuted Christians.
Hölvényi cited the data from Open Doors, a human rights organization, stating that last year alone, more than 4,000 of the 5,000 victims of jihadist attacks in Nigeria were Christians.
Referring to the Christmas attacks in Nigeria, where 20 Christian settlements were targeted and around 200 Christians were massacred, Hölvényi criticized the central government’s apparent inability to stop the violence.
He urged President Bola Tinubu to turn words into action, emphasizing the responsibility of Europe to address violence against Christians as a human rights issue.
Hölvényi concluded his speech by stating, “We Europeans cannot turn a blind eye to violence against Christians.
“We cannot ignore the persecution against Christians. This is a human rights issue. It is time for action to replace silence.”
