Freedom of Religion and Belief

Commends the hon. Member for engaging on an important issue and suggests that there must be an international response to ensure wider understanding and action regarding religious freedom.

Jim Shannon raised concerns about religious liberty violations in Manipur, India, where between 26,000 and 50,000 people were displaced due to violence against Christians. He noted that over 230 churches were destroyed during a four-day period and criticised the lack of action by local police and state government. Shannon also highlighted ongoing issues in Pakistan with regards to the abuse of women and children from Christian and other minority communities, noting the abduction of young girls and the registration of 57 blasphemy cases this year. The hon. Gentleman is right. Further to the intervention by Rehman Chishti, there are ways of doing this; I indicated that in my speech, as did others. We can tie human rights and freedom of religious belief in with aid given to India and Pakistan, making it conditional to effect some change. Asked the government whether the Prime Minister raised issues concerning violence against Christians in Manipur during his visit to India, and inquired about restrictions on journalists' access.

Kevin Foster highlighted the importance of religious freedom, noting that attending a church event in his constituency was routine for him but could be dangerous elsewhere. He cited statistics from Open Doors' world watch list indicating 312 million Christians face very high or extreme levels of persecution globally, with sub-Saharan Africa experiencing new heights of violence and conditions worsening in Latin America.

Concerned about the rise of threats to freedom of religion or belief, Patrick Grady highlighted the increasing persecution of Christians in Pakistan and the plight of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community. He also discussed issues in Israel regarding access to holy sites for Christians and raised concerns over women's rights in Iran and Afghanistan. Grady mentioned cuts to the aid budget affecting conflict resolution projects and called for a whole-of-Government approach on atrocity prevention.

Ms. Gill highlighted the dangers of social media misinformation, intolerance and inflammatory speech, particularly in crisis areas like India. She cited a report by Benjamin Strick which revealed 80 fake accounts spreading divisive content against Sikh political interests. These accounts were aimed at altering perceptions on issues related to Sikh independence, human rights, and values. Ms. Gill warned about the use of 'sock puppets' (fake profiles controlled by real users) in coordinated misinformation campaigns targeting politicians and exacerbating religious and ethnic tensions.

Pays tribute to the UK envoy's work, mentions tough sanctions imposed by the UK against Russia, and asks if the 42 member countries of an alliance have come together to sanction individuals for violating international religious freedom. Chishti advocated for the appointment of a dedicated Minister to advance international religious freedom, highlighting the importance of sanctions against countries violating this right. He questioned the number of visa refusals in the UK for individuals who breach religious freedoms and supported the condemnation of actions like burning holy books under the guise of free speech. The hon. Gentleman mentions the role of authoritarian states, but what about democratic states? The House of Commons Library briefing dated 8 September contains a question by the special envoy to the Second Church Estates Commissioner, in which she referenced the killing of about 100 people and the displacement of 50,000 in Manipur in India. He asks how these challenges would be addressed and what levers could be used when engaging with democratic states like India.

Ms Ruth Jones highlighted the persecution of religious minorities in various countries, particularly focusing on Nepal. She mentioned that despite a liberal constitution ensuring freedom of religion or belief for all citizens, minority communities still face persecution. Ms Jones called for support from the UK in terms of policy and training to help Nepal implement its constitutional vision. She also raised concerns about Tibetan refugees without up-to-date refugee cards who cannot access basic government services.

The MP expressed concern about the growing trend of clampdowns on freedom of religion or belief across the world, including persecution of Christians, Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus, humanists, atheists, and those with no religious beliefs. He highlighted specific instances in countries such as China, Pakistan, Egypt, Nigeria, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and others. The MP called for robust dialogue with allies about these issues and questioned the Government's commitment to prioritising freedom of religion both internally and externally.

Ms Villiers cited the persecution of Christians and other religious minorities globally, mentioning incidents in China, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Cyprus. She highlighted that thousands suffer due to their faith, with examples like the abduction of 276 schoolgirls in Nigeria and forced conversions in Pakistan. In Cyprus, about 500 churches have been desecrated or neglected since 1974, with many converted into mosques or used by the Turkish military.