Over 850 thousand British and Irish, mainly from Cork and Cornwall, were kidnapped during the Trans Atlantic Slave trade and sold in North Africa.
The Island Of Lundy flew the Ottoman flag, and was used as a processing centre for Islamic slave traders, who would sort the women and children and castrate our men and boys - most of whom died.
The Cornish fishing industry was almost decimated and entire towns and villages were almost entirely wiped out.
Giles Milton's "White Gold" tells the story of Thomas Pellow, and 11 year old boy from Falmouth, who was kidnapped.
Simon Webbe has written extensive books on the subject.
Admiral Pellew, (the inspiration for the Master and Commander books) launched an attack at The Battle Of Algiers, with help from the Dutch, to rescue over a 1000 white Christians from North Africa. Many, and most never came home.
Maybe Justin can ask himself why the great grandchildren of African slaves taken to Western countries, are still black today, and then ask himself, why, there is zero visible evidence of the 1.5 million Europeans enslaved by Muslims during the same period.
Today marks the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
My visits to Zanzibar and Jamaica earlier this year deeply affected me, reinforcing the importance of this day and our commitment to justice.
I also express gratitude for the ongoing efforts of the Church Commissioners addressing economic, educational, and health disparities faced by the descendants of enslaved Africans worldwide.
Let us unite in solidarity with victims of slavery past and present.