Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Gender Specific Religious Persecution

17 March 2022 · 3 other contributors · 12,021 words

Opened by Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

Responding minister: James Cleverly

Foreign AffairsWomen & EqualitiesReligion & Faith

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Jim Shannon raised concerns about gender specific religious persecution in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • MP concerned about gender-specific religious persecution affecting women and girls in minority religious communities, citing cases like Meera Bhat's abduction and Farah Shaheen's kidnapping in Pakistan.
  • MP mentions abduction and sexual violence against Yazidi women and girls by Daesh fighters, with over 2,763 still missing.
  • MP urges government to ensure aid spending is conditional on protection for religious minorities, including safeguards against forced marriage and conversion.

Key requests to Government

The MP urges the government to ensure that aid spending is conditional on protection for religious minorities, including safeguards against forced marriage and conversion. He asks for more efforts to find and rescue abducted Yazidi women and girls, ensuring they receive adequate assistance and justice for their abusers. Bruce asks the Minister to provide updates on practical support and resources applied to help women who have faced abduction and forced marriage, as well as to address gender-specific FORB abuses through targeted aid programmes, dialogue with activists and challenging governments that do not apply international treaties on human rights. She also urges better identification of early warning signs to avert atrocities.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

The MP is concerned about gender-specific religious persecution affecting women and girls in minority religious communities, particularly highlighting cases of forced conversion and marriage in Pakistan. He cites instances such as Meera Bhat's abduction and Farah Shaheen's kidnapping, emphasizing the lack of legal support for victims and the culture of impunity surrounding these crimes. The MP also mentions the abduction and sexual violence against Yazidi women and girls by Daesh fighters, with over 2,763 still missing. Fiona Bruce is concerned about the complex, violent and hidden nature of religious persecution against women. She highlights that many women face sexual abuse, forced marriage, child marriage, sexual violence, marital rape, honour killings and denial of access to work. Women often lack legal protection and suffer additional challenges if they convert to another religion or seek justice for being forcibly married. The FCDO has not done enough research on the intersectionality of gender and religious freedom violations despite the Truro review recommendation.

Other contributors (3)
  • Fiona Bruce Con Congleton

    Offered to facilitate a meeting in the Department for members of the all-party parliamentary group to hear about the work being done.

  • Lisa Cameron SNP East Kilbride, Strathaven and Hamilton West

    She highlighted the grave issue of religious persecution faced by women in many parts of the world, citing cases from Nigeria, Pakistan, and Mozambique. According to a report, 95% of abducted girls in Nigeria are Christian. She also mentioned that 1,000 girls are reportedly kidnapped annually in Pakistan for forced conversion or marriage. Asked the Minister if members of the all-party parliamentary group could visit the Department to hear directly about the work being done.

  • Sarah Owen Lab Luton North

    Ms Owen expressed concerns about religious persecution targeting women and girls in various countries, highlighting cases of FGM, forced conversions, and restrictions on education. She questioned the Government's response to these issues, including aid cuts and asylum routes for persecuted individuals.

Government Response

James Cleverly

It is a pleasure to serve with you in the Chair, Ms Rees. I am grateful to the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon) for bringing this debate. Freedom of religion or belief is a universal human right but it is denied to millions of people around the world, particularly women and girls who face targeted sexual violence under the guise of religious justification. The Minister highlighted specific cases such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, China, and Nigeria where religious persecution and gender-based violence intersect. He mentioned UK's support for various UN resolutions, aid projects, and international declarations against sexual violence in conflict. The minister committed to providing £22 million to the United Nations Population Fund in Syria and 5,000 safe resettlement places for at-risk individuals from Afghanistan. He also announced a freedom of religion or belief conference hosted by the UK in July aimed at promoting respect between religious and non-religious communities worldwide.

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