At G20 Forum, head of Phanar announces his support for BLM ideas

Patriarch Bartholomew. Photo: orthodoxianewsagency.gr

On October 13, 2020, as part of the 7th G20 Interfaith Forum, which is being held this year online in Saudi Arabia, Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople announced his support for the anti-racist Black Lives Matter movement and called for "zero tolerance of injustice and any other form of discriminatory practice”. The text of the speech of the head of Phanar was published by the HyeTerе resource.

“The central point of our Orthodox theology is the protection of human dignity reflected in our nature as beings created in the image and likeness of God,” said Patriarch Bartholomew, addressing the participants of the G20 forum. “We would like to remind everyone who is attending this session now, that human dignity does not have color, gender, age, ethnicity, or religion. Everyone has the same value and therefore respect for and equal treatment of human persons must be provided at every time and every place.”

Touching upon the topic of the anti-racist movement Black Lives Matter in the USA, the head of Phanar called for "zero tolerance for injustice".

“We stand with black people and people of color all over the world to affirm every human being’s God-given infinite worth <...> We would like to use this opportunity to raise our voice against structural inequalities, any form and expression of racism, ethnocentrism, tribalism, casteism, and classism. The policy makers and those who do policy implementation need to know that we call for zero tolerance of injustice and any other form of discriminatory practice,” he said.

In addition, Patriarch Bartholomew called on the forum participants to support the UN plan for the protection of religious and cultural sites, which, in his deep conviction, can serve as "vital starting points for an honest dialogue" and where "neighbors, citizens and nations can come together in fruitfully ways."

“We would also like to encourage the drafting of policy recommendations that will highlight the interdependence between the protection of religious and cultural heritage and the enhancement of mutual understanding and respect, and interfaith rapprochement. All these diminish the possibility of a dangerous clash of civilizations and eliminate unjustifiable suspicion among peoples of different religious and cultural backgrounds, contributing, thus, to the journey toward peace, founded in justice and solidarity,” he added.

It will be reminded that earlier Ukrainian human rights activists responded to the claims of the "Ecumenical Federation of Constantinopolitans", which was unhappy with the statement of the NGO "Public Advocacy" regarding the announced petition of the Patriarchate of Constantinople on the issue of St. Sophia to the UN.

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