A Czech bishop has accused his government of prioritising trade ties over human rights, after it delayed granting asylum to dozens of Chinese Christians seeking protection in the country.
Auxiliary Bishop Vaclav Maly of Prague, chairman of the Czech church's Justice and Peace Commission, said in an email to Catholic News Service that the "usual popular objection" cannot be applied to the asylum-seekers. "There are no terrorists among them and no doubts about their work ethic," he said.
"An act of goodwill would enable Czech officials to show we decide our own affairs and won't be pushed into a corner by protests from China. It's shameful to see economic interests prevailing over humanitarian concerns," he wrote.
