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Swiss bishops back Philippine church's human rights fight

Prelates condemn drug-related killings, 'escalating rights violations'
Swiss bishops back Philippine church's human rights fight

Thousands of Catholics gather for a dawn rally in a "show of force" against alleged extrajudicial killings in Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's drug war in Manila in this Feb. 18 photo. (Photo by Noel Celis/AFP)

 

 

Published: May 24, 2017 08:12 AM GMT
Updated: May 24, 2017 08:14 AM GMT

Catholic bishops in Switzerland have joined churchmen from other parts of Europe in condemning drug-related killings and other alleged human rights abuses in the Philippines.

The Swiss bishops voiced their concerns in a letter sent recently to the Philippine church to support its struggle to protect human rights in the country.

Describing the drug-related killings as "atrocities," the bishops also said violence against human rights activists, indigenous activists and journalists had escalated during Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's term in office.

"The lack of condemnation of these human rights violations leads to a culture of impunity," said the letter signed by Bishop Felix Gmur of Basel, vice-president of the Swiss bishops' conference.

"The Swiss bishops' conference and the Swiss Catholic Lenten Fund share the fundamental concerns of the Philippine Church … and support [its] firm advocacy for justice," the letter said.

The bishops also expressed support for the Philippine Church's opposition to two bills being reviewed in the Philippine Congress that would see the re-introduction of the death penalty for drug-related offenses and the reduction of the age of criminal responsibility from 15 to nine years of age.

Their comments echo those made recently by bishops in Germany and Austria.

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