THE Prince of Wales has urged faith leaders to ensure that people within their own tradition respect those of others in the wake of the persecution of Christians and beheadings by Islamic State (IS).
The heir to the throne's plea came in a video message recorded for the launch of a report on religious freedom, compiled by the international charity Aid to the Church in Need.
He said the "horrendous and heartbreaking" events in Iraq and Syria had brought the subject of religious freedom and persecution to the forefront of the world's news.
His comments also follow the recent kidnapping and executions of UK aid workers David Haines, 44, who was raised in Perth, and Alan Henning, 47, from Greater Manchester, by IS. Their families recently joined together to appeal to communities to defeat the radical Muslim terror group's "most hateful acts".
Prince Charles added: "We have learnt with mounting despair of the expulsion of Christians, Muslims and Yazidis from towns and cities that their ancestors have occupied for centuries.
"Sadly, incidents of violence in Iraq and Syria are not isolated. They are found throughout some, though not all, of the Middle East, in some African nations and in many countries across Asia."
He added that despite the apparently bleak picture, there were still inspirational people of different faiths joining together to "overcome division and hatred".
The Prince said: "It is an indescribable tragedy that Christianity is now under such threat in the Middle East. Our future as a free society depends on recognising the crucial role played by people of faith."
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