Prince Charles warns intolerance towards refugees has chilling echoes of the ‘dark days of the 1930s’
Royal reveals on 'Thought for the Day' programme that rise of 'populist groups' across the world is 'deeply disturbing'
PRINCE Charles has warned that Britain’s rising intolerance against refugees is similar to that seen in World War II.
The Prince of Wales told BBC Radio yesterday that he was concerned about the amount of people being “aggressive” towards those from minority faiths, describing it as “deeply disturbing”.
Speaking on the ‘Thought for the Day’ section of the Today programme, he said: “The suffering doesn't end when they arrive seeking refuge in a foreign land.
“We are now seeing the rise of many populist groups across the world that are increasingly aggressive towards those who adhere to a minority faith."
And the heir to the throne warned listeners that he doesn’t want history to repeat itself after “monstrous extremism” in World War II.
He added: “All of this has deeply disturbing echoes of the dark days of the 1930s”, explaining that his comments apply not to just Christians fleeing conflict in the Middle East but other persecuted faiths worldwide – including Yazidis, Jews, Ahmadi Muslims and Baha’I people.
The 68-year-old said that "nearly 70 years later we should still be seeing such evil persecution is to me beyond all belief
"We owe it to those who suffered and died so horribly not to repeat the horrors of the past.”
He also pointed out that Jesus’ family had sought refuge from persecution, and the Prophet Mohammed had “migrated” from Mecca to Medina in search of religious freedom.
Prince Charles has often spoken out about Christian minorities in the Middle East, and wants to be seen as a “Defender of Faiths”, not just a “Defender of Faith” when he becomes the supreme governor of the Church of England when he succeeds the Queen to reflect Britain’s multicultural society.
Yesterday the Queen and Prince Philip delayed their Christmas trip to Sandringham “due to heavy colds”.
Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh were both confirmed to be ill, cancelling their journeys at short notice.
A royal source revealed that the Duke, 95, has been struck down harder than the Queen and his health is being monitored.
They said: "The Duke is worse than Her Majesty.
"There’s a bit of concern about him and a close eye is being kept.
"At his age, one has to be very cautious that it doesn’t develop into something much worse.”
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