The Hungarian government’s solidarity towards the Yezidi community of Iraq manifests itself not only in words, but also in actions, enabling members of the community – victims of a genocide – to remain in their native land or to return home, Tristan Azbej, Minister of State for Helping Persecuted Christians and the Implementation of the Hungary Helps Programme at the Prime Minister’s Office said at an online conference organised by the Free Yezidi Foundation on the occasion of the memorial day of the genocide committed by the Islamic State against Yezidi people.

The Minister of State stressed that, in addition to protecting human lives, the Hungarian assistance provided as part of the Hungary Helps Programme also extends to the recovery of the local economy afflicted by war, thereby making it possible for members of the community to remain in their native land or to return home.

A centre assisting with the social reintegration of Yezidi women raped by armed jihadists and taken away to serve as sex slaves is also being created from Hungarian funding, the Minister of State added. The projects are being implemented in harmony with the basic tenet of the Hungary Helps Programme. We profess that help must be taken where there is trouble, rather than bringing problems here.

In addition to Mr Azbej, the international online conference was also attended, among others, by United States Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom Samuel Brownback and former European Commission special envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion outside the EU Ján Figel’.

(MTI/Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister)