It would not be wrong to say that the entire EU is on holiday. Particularly in Brussels, the Christmas holiday starts early. Since European Parliament also has a "green week," Brussels in on a break until Jan. 10. European Commission officials are either in their countries or on a ski vacation for the holidays. European Parliament members and EU authorities are also preparing to have a nice evening on Dec. 24, together with their families. How joyful for those family members. They will cheerfully gather around their Christmas trees on the morning of Dec. 25 and unwrap all of their gifts.
I must admit that despite being Muslim, I love such joyful family moments, particularly the morning of Dec. 25. The magical Christmas mornings and evenings, during which family members come together in a cozy room dimly lit by the lights on the Christmas tree, are especially great moments for children, but only for lucky European kids, of course.
While European children are enjoying the magical atmosphere of Dec. 25, Syrian children will continue to be targeted by the Syrian President Bashar Assad's units or Russian warplanes due to the ongoing Syrian civil war, to which Europeans have remained indifferent for years and only lately have attempted to intervene when the refugee issue started to disturb them.
Aside from Muslim children, Christian children in Syria are also potential targets of terrorism and violence on Christmas Eve.
I wonder if the European politicians who are preparing to enjoy their happy family moments on Christmas Eve will remember the Syrian children who are struggling to survive under the attacks of Russian jets, Syrian regime units and various terrorist groups including DAESH, the PKK and the Democratic Union Party (PYD). While the children of the pilots navigating the Russian jets will be safe in their hometowns on Christmas, their fathers will continue to murder Syrian children with their bombs.
Syria's unfortunate children are not only struggling for life in Syria. They also have to face the thin line between life and death in the midst of the cold waves of the Mediterranean or Aegean Sea on the unsafe boats of human traffickers.
And for Syrian children who manage to reach an EU country such as Greece, Bulgaria or Hungary, they will probably spend Christmas Eve shivering in cold tents. As for the children who have reached other EU countries like Germany, they have to stay alert, even on Christmas Eve, against neo-Nazi and racist attacks targeting refugees, as we are witnessing increasing number of attacks on refugees every day.
I wonder whether those who will pray for permanent peace in Europe at their churches on Christmas Eve will ever consider that many Syrian children will continue to lose their lives, since Europe remains indifferent.
There is nothing wrong with praying, but I think they should do more than pray.
Why are Syrian children deprived of their rights to smile and be happy like European children on Christmas?
Will European Parliament members and EU countries' national parliament members visits refugee residences and give children presents on Dec. 25? I do not think so. If I were a European Parliament member, I would visit Syrian refugee children and give them presents on Christmas, along with my own children. I would not only do that because of my Muslim faith, I would do the same even if I were a Christian, because I am a human being and Christmas is a joyful period in all of Europe.
Now, and especially on particular holidays celebrated by Europeans, our European friends should think about Syria, its people and especially the children. But thinking is not enough.
The EU has a great responsibility in the Syria issue and must take all the required steps after Christmas.
All EU countries must provide living conditions that guarantee Syrian refugees a humane life where they are not subjected to neo-Nazi or racist attacks. They also must take necessary steps to end the anguish of the Syrian people who are tormented by the Syrian regime, Russia, DAESH, the PKK and the PYD.
This Christmas should be the one in which Syrian children will not have to cry or suffer agony.
