December 20, 2012
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| Greek Orthodox priests in Damascus pray during a service in January for a Christian boy who was killed in the fighting in the central Syrian city of Homs. (Joseph Eid / AFP/Getty Images) |
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT EFFORT. PLEASE TAKE THE TIME AND REGISTER YOUR SUPPORT.
Friends,
Are there 25,000 Orthodox Christians in America who are ready to stand up for Orthodox Christians in the Middle East this holiday season?
Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC) is launching a petition asking President Obama to respond to the fact that religious minorities need protection across the globe, and we need your help.
In Turkey alone — which boasts a population of over 75 million — the number of Greek Orthodox Christians has plummeted to just 3,500 because the Turkish government refuses to grant the Greek Orthodox Church its full religious freedom. In occupied Cyprus, Turkish forces have stopped Christmas liturgy from being celebrated by enslaved Orthodox Christians. In Iraq, Syria, and Egypt, religious minorities are unable to worship in peace this holiday season.
Under the White House rules, if we can find 25,000 people to sign the petition, the White House will have to issue a response. Can you help us reach our goal?
To sign the petition, click on the link below:
http://hellenicleaders.com/freedom
Thanks,
Endy
Endy Zemenides
Executive Director
Hellenic American Leadership Council
P.S. This isn’t just a Greek Orthodox issue. Freedom of religion is a basic human right that all people should fight for, whether they’re Christian, Jewish, Muslim, agnostic or atheist. Forward this email to your friends and family and ask them to join the call in protecting this fundamental human right.
