Mr. Speaker, I am rising today to present a petition on behalf of concerned Canadians about the plight of Christians in Africa, specifically in Nigeria, Congo and Mozambique, who are being attacked and murdered by groups such as Boko Haram, Islamic State and other terrorist groups for the simple reason that they are Christians. According to reports such as those from the Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa, in many communities, millions of people have been forced to flee their homes. In Nigeria alone, the petitioners note, it is estimated that 30 Christians are murdered every day.
Therefore, the petitioners are calling on the government to do the following: unequivocally condemn the ongoing persecution of Christians in Africa; engage diplomatically with these countries in Africa to both defend Christians and seek justice for them; provide humanitarian and reconstruction relief to these communities; and lastly, ensure that Canada's foreign policy continues to defend the freedom of conscience and freedom of religion of all people globally.