Second, Mr. Speaker, I have a petition to present from constituents in my riding and across the country. The petitioners call upon Parliament to condemn the persecution of Coptic Christians in Egypt, who have been systematically persecuted in that country. Twelve million of these indigenous Christian people live in Egypt and are being persecuted by terrorists, extremists and even members of the government there.
The petitioners call on our government and this Parliament to take a principled stand in defending religious freedom and the ancient liberty that is owed to the Coptic Christians who live in Egypt.