The Swiss Bishops Conference has expressed concern over violence against Christians in Iraq and Egypt, among other countries.

The bishops recognised the “difficult situation” for Christians in Iraq and called on law and order forces to work to guarantee respect for all minorities in the country, the conference said following its annual meeting in Lugano.

Systematic killings have been carried out to try to chase Christians out of the country, the conference said. In the past two weeks alone, nine Christians have been killed in Mosul during attacks.

Christians are also under threat in Egypt, India, Nigeria and other countries. In one incident in the upper Egyptian town of Nag Hammadi seven people were killed during the Coptic Christmas celebrations in January. The Coptic Christian population in Egypt is the largest Christian community in the Middle East.

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