A charity has reported that Christian refugees running away from the violence in the Middle East are getting targeted by Muslims once they arrive in European countries. According to the organization, many of those who are persecuting Christians are Muslim refugees who came from Iraq.
Many of these cases have been reported in France. Open Doors France noted that the violence against the migrants due to their faith is the main reason many of them avoid refugee camps. The group said that many of these incidents involve beatings and stabbings.
"Many Christian amongst the refugees are fleeing persecution and discrimination," Michael Varton, the director of the organization said in a statement according to Express.
"They are already traumatized by their terrible experience in the Middle East," he added. "Imagine their despair to realize that, once here in France, they are suffering the same discrimination and hate from fellow immigrants."
Based on previous reports, the persecution of Christian refugees by Muslim migrants in Europe has been going on since the immigration issue broke out. Due to the killings and harassment carried out by the extremist group ISIS on Christians, many of them either leave the Middle East or forcibly convert to Islam to avoid persecution.
Christians who are caught by ISIS are then either killed or tortured if they fail to renounce their religion.
Earlier this year, the European Parliament has officially labeled the terrorist organization's actions against Christians as genocide, Premiere reported.
The British government, headed by Prime Minister David Cameron, is also being urged by various groups to classify ISIS' actions as a form of systematic elimination of a religious group. Once the government agrees to this, then it can employ necessary actions to ensure the protection of Christians in the Middle East and in the host country.
"The local churches have shown dedication to help the Christian refugees and those who are genuinely interested in the Christian faith," Vaton said. "The authorities must allow them to have simple buildings where they can meet and worship God in security."
