Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Persecution for Religion or Belief

Thursday 22 July 2021 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 3 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Church of England has made an assessment of the trends in persecution of people for their religion or belief in 2021.
  • The Church is pressing the Government to consider targeted sanctions on individuals and entities responsible for religious freedom violations in India.
  • The Church of England continues to press the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to provide assistance to address ongoing violence against Christians in Nigeria.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jacob Young
Religion & Faith
Context

The Church of England is asked to assess the levels of religious persecution in 2021.

Question

What assessment has the Church of England made of trends in the level of persecution of people for their religion or belief in 2021?

Answer from Andrew Selous

I am enormously grateful to all three of my right hon. and hon. Friends for continuing to bring the House's attention to the ongoing, horrific levels of persecution of people for their religion or belief.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide a specific assessment of religious persecution trends by the Church of England in 2021

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Q2 Desmond Swayne Con New Forest West
Religion & Faith
Context

Concern over the rise of persecution of Christians in India and potential actions to address this issue.

Question

How concerned is my hon. Friend about the rise of persecution of Christians in India, and is there anything to be done?

Answer from Andrew Selous

My right hon. Friend is right about the reports that keep coming out of India. The Church is pressing the Government to see India as a country of particular concern where targeted sanctions on individuals and entities responsible for severe violations of religious freedom may be needed. Overseas development assistance should be used to advance the human rights of people of all faiths in India.

Answered
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Q3 Alexander Stafford
Community Security Religion & Faith
Context

Concern over violence against Christians and attacks on religious leaders in the Tigray region of Ethiopia.

Question

My hon. Friend will be aware of the terrible conflict currently raging in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. There have been disturbing reports of violence against Christians and shocking allegations that priests and nuns have been attacked and killed. What is the Church doing to help ensure that Christians are protected in Tigray and that Ethiopia's religious diversity is safeguarded?

Answer from Andrew Selous

My hon. Friend is absolutely right that the situation in Tigray is truly desperate. Both churches and mosques are being attacked and looted and, in some cases, their worshippers killed. Our bishops have raised their concerns forcefully with the Ethiopian ambassador and have asked our Ministers to relay their concerns to the newly elected Ethiopian Government.

Answered
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Q4 Jacob Young
Foreign Affairs Religion & Faith
Context

Concern over ongoing violence, kidnappings, and attacks on churches and religious leaders in Nigeria.

Question

In Nigeria, violence against Christians is ongoing. Since December, there have been 10 mass kidnappings and repeated attacks on churches and religious leaders. The week before last, 30 people were killed and 200 homes and four churches were destroyed. What is the Church doing to bring that to global leaders' attention so that this appalling suffering can be brought to an end?

Answer from Andrew Selous

I thank my hon. Friend for raising this issue. We sometimes need to pause for a moment to take in the enormity of what is happening. The Church of England continues to press the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to provide the financial and technical assistance necessary to address these horrendous violations of religious freedom. The Church is also working to enable parliamentarians in Nigeria and elsewhere to hold to account those who perpetuate such horrific violence. These victims will not be forgotten by us.

Answered
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