Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Freedom of Religion and Belief

Thursday 20 July 2023 · 3 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 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution to produce an annual report on freedom of religion and belief, sponsored by the UK and the UAE.
  • The Archbishop of Canterbury is concerned about worsening attacks on minority faith communities in India.
  • Dr Sammy Wainaina, the Archbishop's new adviser, highlighted the challenging situation in Pakistan, noting that priests have been murdered.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Fiona Bruce Con
Religion & Faith
Context

The Church of England has been working on initiatives to protect freedom of religion and belief internationally. A UN resolution based on the Bishop of Truro's review was recently adopted.

Question

What recent steps the Church of England has taken to help protect freedom of religion and belief in other countries?

Answer from Andrew Selous

The United Nations Security Council has recently adopted a resolution to produce an annual report on freedom of religion and belief, sponsored by the UK and the UAE. This resolution is based on the Bishop of Truro's review and incorporates many of his original recommendations.

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Q2 Fiona Bruce Con
Community Security Religion & Faith
Context

A report by former BBC reporter David Campanale and other FORB experts indicates that hundreds of churches have been destroyed in Manipur, over 100 people killed, more than 50,000 displaced since early May. There has been very little reporting about this.

Question

That is indeed a very positive development. My hon. Friend will have seen another report, produced by former BBC reporter David Campanale and other FORB experts for the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance, which I chair, on the ongoing major violence in Manipur, India. It indicates that since early May alone hundreds of churches there have been destroyed, many burnt to the ground; more than 100 people have been killed and over 50,000 displaced; and schools and seminaries have been targeted in what looks like systematic and premeditated attacks with religion a key factor. There has been very little reporting about this. People there are calling out for help; what can the Church do to draw more attention to their cries?

Answer from Andrew Selous

The matter has been put on the record by my hon. Friend, which is a great service. I hope for much greater reporting of these issues by the BBC and others. The Archbishop of Canterbury remains extremely concerned about worsening attacks and their spread to other minority faith communities in India, so her report will be brought directly to his attention.

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Q3 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
Religion & Faith
Context

The situation for religious freedom is challenging in Pakistan, with priests being murdered. The Archbishop visited the country recently to see challenges first hand.

Question

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his response to the hon. Member for Congleton (Fiona Bruce), who does such fantastic work as the ambassador for not only the Prime Minister but all of us in the House. In February, I visited Pakistan with the all-party parliamentary group for international freedom of religion or belief. Further to what the hon. Gentleman said, will he advise the House on what steps the Church of England is taking to support the Anglican ministry in Pakistan and to defend the rights of Pakistani Christians to practise their faith and express their beliefs without fear of repression?

Answer from Andrew Selous

I talked earlier this week with Dr Sammy Wainaina, the Archbishop's new adviser on Anglican communion affairs. He specifically mentioned Pakistan and highlighted that the situation there is extremely challenging—priests have been murdered—the Archbishop visited recently to see these challenges first hand.

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