Every year at Easter, millions of Christians remember the story at the centre of their faith: the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
On Good Friday, believers reflect on a simple and uncomfortable truth: Christianity begins with the story of a prisoner, a man arrested, judged by political authority, and condemned to death for his beliefs. That story did not begin in Rome or Europe. It began in Palestine. Two thousand years ago, according to the Christian narrative, Jesus walked towards execution while authorities enforced their law and the world around him watched. The cross that stands today in churches across Luxembourg and around the world is a reminder of that moment: a death sentence and torture carried out by power.
Over time, Easter has become associated with spring traditions, family gatherings, and colourful eggs. But its original meaning is far more serious. At its heart lies a question about injustice, sacrifice, and how societies respond when a human life is placed under authority.
This year, as Christians approach Easter once again, the symbolism of that story resonates in the land where it began. In Jerusalem, thousands of Palestinians are held in Israeli prisons, many under administrative detention without trial. Recently, the Israeli Knesset approved legislation allowing the death penalty specifically for Palestinians, a move that has drawn concern from human rights organisations. Today, roughly 10,000 Palestinians are detained, including close to 300 minors, many of whom may face execution before seeing a court, a lawyer, or bidding farewell to their families.
For Palestinians, this gives Easter a painful resonance. What Christians remember each year is the fate of a condemned man; 2,000 years later, power still decides life and death.
In Luxembourg, the question of moral responsibility has already reached the political sphere. Parliamentary Petition 3231, supported by published research, shows that the Grand Duchy has a legal role under international law to act against serious human rights violations. This is not abstract; it is a call for concrete accountability.
Easter was never meant to be comfortable. The cross is not a decoration. It is a symbol of injustice and a warning about what happens when authority decides who deserves to live or die. Two thousand years ago, a man walked towards execution. Two thousand years later, the world is still watching.
If the lesson of the cross teaches anything, it is this: witnessing injustice and doing nothing is not neutrality. It is a choice. And when laws, petitions, and moral responsibility point the way, silence is no longer an option.
Have we learned from the story of the cross?
This is an opinion article. The views expressed belong to the author.
