VOX’s Ignacio Garriga denounces the “genocide” of Christians in Africa, criticizes Western silence, and urges Europe to act in defense of faith.
Newsroom (14/11/2025 Gaudium Press ) In a searing address to the European Parliament, Ignacio Garriga, Secretary General of Spain’s VOX party, condemned the international community’s silence and alleged manipulation surrounding the systematic persecution of Christians, particularly in Africa, which he unequivocally labeled a “genocide.” Speaking at a Patriots group working meeting on religious freedom, co-chaired by MEPs Margarita de la Pisa and György Hölvényi, Garriga highlighted the escalating violence against Christians and the critical role of the Church in Africa’s democratic transitions.
Garriga asserted that discussing Africa’s challenges is inseparable from addressing the plight of its Christian communities. “More than 380 million Christians are suffering violent persecution,” he stated, citing a spectrum of abuses from harassment and threats to mass killings. He identified Nigeria as the epicenter of this crisis, noting that over 7,000 Christians have been killed since January 2025, with more than 50,000 deaths since 2009. Similar patterns of violence, he warned, are emerging in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, and Kenya. “We are talking about genocide,” Garriga insisted, emphasizing the scale and intent behind these atrocities.
Western Silence and Institutional Manipulation
The VOX leader reserved sharp criticism for Western governments and international organizations, accusing them of imposing an “information blackout” and engaging in “institutional manipulation” to downplay the religious motivations behind these crimes. He singled out Spanish public television for dismissing the genocide of Christians as a “hoax,” a characterization he described as emblematic of broader efforts to obscure the truth. Garriga also targeted prominent organizations, including the UN Human Rights Office, Amnesty International, and Doctors Without Borders, alleging they deliberately misframe the massacres as ethnic or political conflicts, thereby minimizing their religious dimension.
A Global Crisis: Beyond Africa
Garriga underscored that the persecution of Christians extends far beyond Africa. In China and North Korea, he noted, state-sponsored harassment remains systematic, while India grapples with persistent discrimination against Christian communities. In Latin America, he pointed to escalating threats from terrorist groups, drug traffickers, and even governments. He cited Nicaragua as a particularly egregious case, where priests face persecution, religious figures are expelled, and churches are routinely attacked. “This is a global assault on Christianity,” Garriga declared, linking these disparate crises to a broader ideological campaign.
Defending Christianity, Criticizing European Inaction
Central to Garriga’s address was a defense of Christians as “a fundamental element in promoting peace and the development of peoples.” He lamented Europe’s apparent amnesia regarding its Christian roots, accusing the political left of harboring “a deep hatred towards everything Christian” and alleging a troubling convergence of interests between leftist ideologies and Islamism in their opposition to Christianity. He further criticized European Christian Democratic parties for their tepid response to the global persecution of Christians, arguing that they have failed to uphold the values they claim to represent.
Garriga praised “patriotic forces” for taking up the mantle of defending persecuted Christians, pointing to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and former U.S. President Donald Trump as rare leaders who have prioritized the issue. He noted Trump’s efforts to elevate the violence against Nigerian Christians onto the international stage as a model for decisive action.
A Call to Action: Europe’s Moral Imperative
In his closing remarks, Garriga issued a stark warning to Europe: ignoring the plight of persecuted Christians would constitute a betrayal of the continent’s identity and history. He invoked the legacy of Christian martyrs—more than 2,000 beatified and 11 canonized in Spain—as a source of inspiration and a call to action. “Where there is living faith, even in the midst of persecution, hope is reborn,” he proclaimed, envisioning a “new springtime” for the Church and nations grounded in the defense of truth.
Garriga’s intervention has reignited debate over Europe’s responsibility to address religious persecution and its broader implications for global human rights. As the Patriots group continues its work, the question remains whether his call will spur meaningful action or fade into the silence he so passionately decried.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from InfoVaticana
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