Strasbourg, 7 October 2025
Member of the European Parliament and Co-Chair of the EPP Group’s Working Group on Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue, Željana Zovko, participated in a debate on rising antisemitism in Europe.
Zovko stressed that the rise of violent protests against Israel, hate speech and the stigmatization of Jewish communities across Europe is deeply concerning.
She called on the Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration to urgently appoint a Special Envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion.
Zovko added that the horrifying attack on a synagogue in Manchester is a stark reminder of the fear that Jewish individuals face daily, as many are compelled to hide their identities, fearing that expressing their faith might make them targets of senseless violence.
She stressed that in European universities, Jewish students are increasingly experiencing discrimination across our continent. Likewise, some feel the need to remove religious symbols from their homes, living in anxiety that history might repeat itself.
As Co-Chair of the European Parliament working group on Interreligious Dialogue, Zovko has always emphasized that, without dialogue, there cannot be a genuine peace.
“Dialogue must always triumph over hatred. If we engage in meaningful conversation and strive to understand one another, we can foster a world where every individual feels safe and valued”, she stated.
Zovko also referred to her meeting with His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, highlighting the crucial need to promote dialogue,peace and interreligious coexistence in Europe.