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The Minister of International Relations, Ernesto Araújo, reiterated today the statement made by President Jair Bolsonaro (without a party) in the UN General Assembly, on the importance of combating “cristofobia”:
“It is a concept that already exists, the president is not the first to use it,” he said in an interview with CNN Brazil. “I think that there is insufficient awareness around the world about christopherobia. Even in countries that were once a Christian majority, and where the Christian faith is sometimes denigrated, attacked, when other religions are not.
The term “denigrate” was the subject of discussion this week for its racist origin.
At the UN, Bolsonaro called on the international community to defend religious freedom, and specifically to combat discrimination against Christians:
“Freedom is the greatest asset of humanity. I appeal to the entire international community for religious freedom and the fight against christophobia,” said the president.
“Cristophobia” is a term that has become common among advocates of conservative ideology, especially those who claim to be followers of the right-wing ideologue Olavo de Carvalho. Last year, the Chamber of Deputies held a solemn session in plenary session to combat cristofobia led by parliamentarians Bolsonar and Olavista.
Ernesto Araújo called Bolsonaro’s speech “relevant, innovative and courageous,” and denied that it excluded other religions:
“In our case, a majority Christian country, 90% Christian, which has part of its essence and identity in Christianity, we feel the responsibility to draw attention to that.”
To justify the exclusive focus on Christianity, the minister cited a study “dedicated especially to studying the growing and very serious problem of the persecution of Christians.” But he did not mention the name of the study, its results or the institution that carried it out, only that it would have been carried out last year in the UK.