Sophie in 't Veld, MEP, on Moscow Pride

Dear Sir,

In view of your meeting with religious leaders tomorrow, I would like to draw your attention to a written question to the Commission tabled today, relating to transparency and balance in the dialogue between the EU and confessional and non denominational organisations.

Furthermore, I would like to draw your attention to a very serious matter that should be raised as an urgent issue at tomorrow's meeting. Last weekend, activists for gay and lesbian rights attempted to hold a peaceful demonstration on the streets of Moscow. The demonstration had been banned, but a handful of activists attempted to walk up to town hall nonetheless. I was amongst the foreign guests supporting the event. You are surely aware of the fact that the demonstrators met with hundreds of opponents, many of whom were violent hooligans, attacking the demonstrators, beating up some of them, shouting nazi slogans and curses at the demonstrators. This was shocking enough in itself, but what was even more shocking was the fact that the hooligans were accompanied supported and it seems in some cases even publicly blessed by Russian Orthodox priests. Even if religious leaders are opposed to gay rights, under no circumstance should they preach or condone violence! We call upon the religious leaders present at your meeting tomorrow to publicly condemn the actions of the priests, and upon the Russian Orthodox church in particular to initiate an investigation into the matter.

Th e EU has a responsibility in protecting and promoting human rights in all its activities. What more appropriate occasion to condemn violence and prejudice than a meeting with religious leaders.

Yours sincerely,

Sophie in 't Veld, MEP

C.c. Mr Wolfgang Schüssel, Mr Vladimir Spidla, Mr Franco Frattini

RELIGIOUS LEADERS MUST CONDEMN ROLE CHURCH IN MOSCOW VIOLENCE

"The violence and hatred against a handful of gay activists was shocking enough in itself, but to see Orthodox priests leading and cheering on the hooligans is a downright disgrace". Liberal MEP Sophie in 't Veld, Chair of the EP working group on Separation of Religion and Politics, is appalled by events in Moscow last weekend, not least by the active role played by Orthodox priests. On the eve of a meeting between Barroso and chruch leaders, addressed an urgent appeal to the participants to condemn the presence of Russian Orthodox priests in the gay bashing that occurred in Moscow last weekend. In 't Veld feels the church leaders, gathering in Brussels tomorrow, should speak out and publicly condemn the role of the Orthodox priests in the violence of last weekend. Furthermore, she calls for an investigation by the Orthodox Church. "The EU is a community of values, and has a special responsibility in promoting human rights. It cannot be that Barroso meets with church leaders on the topic of "fundamental rights and mutual respect", without saying somthing about the hatred and violence against gay people, often spurred on by religious leaders.