Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Nicaragua: Freedom of Religion or Belief

Tuesday 30 April 2024 · 2 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The UK is committed to defending freedom of religion or belief for all.
  • The UK shares international concern about the suppression of human rights in Nicaragua.
  • The UK continues to call out human rights violations in Nicaragua in bilateral and multilateral settings.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Fiona Bruce Con
Foreign Affairs Religion & Faith
Context

The UK is concerned about the suppression of human rights in Nicaragua, including freedom of religion or belief.

Question

What steps he is taking to support freedom of religion or belief in Nicaragua. The UK is committed to defending this right but faces concerns over its suppression in Nicaragua. He was asked for specific actions being taken by the government.

Answer from David Rutley

The UK is committed to defending freedom of religion or belief for all. We share widespread international concern about the suppression of human rights in Nicaragua, including the right to freedom of religion or belief. We continue to call, in bilateral and multilateral settings, for the Nicaraguan Government to respect democracy and all human rights.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps and measures were not detailed beyond general commitment statements.

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Q2 Fiona Bruce Con
Foreign Affairs Religion & Faith
Context

Three all-party parliamentary groups, including that on international freedom of religion or belief, recently produced an inquiry report detailing widespread human rights violations in Nicaragua.

Question

Three all-party parliamentary groups, including that on international freedom of religion or belief, recently produced an inquiry report, “The Silencing of Democracy in Nicaragua”, outlining widespread, grave and brutal human rights violations by the regime against journalists, academics, political opponents, religious leaders and wider civil society. Our report makes recommendations for the UK Government and other states. What public steps will Ministers take, both unilaterally and jointly with other countries, to challenge those violations, to support the victims and survivors, such as Bishop Álvarez, and to call to account the Nicaraguan regime for such violations, in line with our recommendations?

Answer from David Rutley

I very much welcome the report. It was good to meet my hon. Friend and parliamentary neighbour, the respected special envoy on FORB, to review the report—I read it with interest and will respond to the inquiry members shortly. She can be assured that we continue to call out this behaviour—this unacceptable behaviour—by the regime, which does not respect human rights and certainly does not respect freedom of religion or belief.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific public steps were not detailed beyond general commitment statements.

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