After meeting with many Iraqi and Syrian refugees, The Prince of Wales has donated money to persecuted Christians.
Following a speech Prince Charles made on persecuted Christians at an advent reception last month, the undisclosed amount was made from the Prince of Wales’ charitable foundation to Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).
The rapidly growing crisis of extremism could have an effect on religion and threaten “the very existence of Christianity in the land of its birth,” Charles said at the event where he spent time talking to Syrian and Iraqi Christians who had fled persecution.
UK national director of ACN, Neville Kyrke-Smith, was thankful towards Prince Charles and said it could have a far-reaching impact.
“Having met Iraqi and Syrian refugees recently in Lebanon, I know how much such help means – and the fact that our brothers and sisters are not forgotten,” Neville said.
“The support of the Prince of Wales for the work of Aid to the Church in Need and other organisations encourages more people to do the same.”
This is not the first time Charles has lent his support to persecuted Christians. In the past, he has donated what was described as a “small token of assistance” to ACN and is known to regularly speak on the threat Christians face in the Middle East, which he has said is an “indescribable tragedy”.
Aid to the Church in Need works with persecuted and oppressed Christians across the globe and has recently announced a series of additional emergency aid for people in the Middle East.
In 2015, ACN UK paid over £1.5 million to support projects in the Middle East, including Iraq and Syria where the charity has 140 recent and current projects. Since 2011 when the conflict in the region escalated, ACN has given more than £11 million for projects in Iraq and more than £7 million for Syria.
Prince Charles has always been a supporter of all religions, and also frequently speaks talks in support of Islamic law and women’s rights.
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