'Nobody should fear persecution due to their faith'

ONE of my responsibilities in the Welsh Conservative Group in the National Assembly is shadow minister for faith.

As such, I am greatly concerned that the National Assembly is reconvening after the Easter recess in the wake of two of the most shocking terrorist attacks in recent memory.

In March, 50 people died, and dozens more were injured, when a gunman attacked two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand.

MORE NEWS:

Jacinda Arden, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, won widespread praise and admiration for her response to this attack.

She said: “What has happened in Christchurch is an extraordinary act of unprecedented violence.”

“It has no place in New Zealand. Many of those affected will be members of our migrant communities. New Zealand is their home. They are us.”

This horrific event was a direct attack on the values of tolerance and freedom of worship which we all hold dear.

Following the events in New Zealand, security had to be stepped up at Mosques across Birmingham after five were targeted during a spate of vandalism.

The home secretary announced funding for protective security for places of worship to help reassure communities.

On Easter Sunday, a series of suicide bomb attacks killed 253 people and injured more than 500 at churches and hotels across Sri Lanka.

These churches were packed with worshippers attending Easter services.

Most of those killed were Sri Lankan nationals although casualties include citizens from the UK, Europe, India, Australia, Japan, Bangladesh the United States and China.

Nobody should fear persecution due to their faith.

To target people, whatever their religion, as they attend their place of worship, is unacceptable and disgraceful.

We reject those who incite fear and seek to sow the seeds of hatred and division among our communities.

Our communities must unite to defeat those who seek to destroy our values and our way of life.

During the Easter break I undertook a number of visits to raise issues of concern to my constituents.

I met with the Assistant Chief Constable of South Wales Police to discuss co-operation with Gwent Police to tackle the problem county line drug gangs.

I also met with the chief executive of Aneurin Bevan University Health Board to discuss health care in South East Wales and visited Monmouthshire School for Boys to discuss skills training and further education.

I would like to thank all involved in arranging these useful and informative meetings.