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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Tim Hanlon

Prince Charles shares New Year's message urging people to stand up for freedom

Prince Charles has paid tribute to the "brave individuals" who are fighting political and religious persecution in countries like Afghanistan, Syria and Myanmar, in a New Year message.

The Prince of Wales has called on the world to remember those "standing up for freedom and human rights" in a message on the first day of 2022.

The crisis in Afghanistan exploded with the Taliban takeover while Charles recently visited Jordan and learnt first hand how the Middle East country has for decades been a haven for people fleeing conflict in the region including Syria.

The prince said in his message: "As we start a New Year, we might take a moment to remember the many people around the world who are standing up for freedom and human rights.

Charles recently visited Jordan and learnt first hand how people have fled there (Getty Images)

"In places such as Afghanistan, Syria and Myanmar, among others, the threats and reality of political and religious persecution and insecurity are coupled with an increasingly dire humanitarian situation.

"In the face of such adversity, incredibly brave individuals, local communities and international organisations are responding to great needs by providing vital assistance.

"I pray for peaceful resolutions to these conflicts and that we might all be blessed with the courage to support those in need, wherever they may be."

Charles praised people standing up to persecution in his New Year's message (Getty Images)

After the Afghanistan capital Kabul fell to the Taliban, many people fled their desperately poor homeland despite the billions of international money poured in over the 20 years the US-backed governments had been in power.

More than 8,000 former Afghan staff and their family members eligible under the Afghan relocations and assistance policy were among the 15,000-plus people evacuated by the UK.

But thousands of Afghans who helped British efforts in the nation and their relatives, as well as other vulnerable civilians, were feared left behind and humanitarian conditions are said to have deteriorated.

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