Author: Julie Jones

The latest Pew Research Center report, based on data for 2014, concludes that there has been an overall decline in religious restrictions and hostilities despite a continued rise in religion-related terrorism.

Of the 198 countries included in the study, 24% had high or very high levels of government restrictions in 2014 (the most recent year for which data are available), down from 28% in 2013.

There was a similar decline in the share of countries with high or very high social hostilities involving religion, which dropped from 27% to 23%. This is the second year in a row the number of countries with this level of religious restrictions has declined, after three years of steady increases.

• There was a marked increase in the number of countries that experienced religion-related terrorist activities
• There was a decline in the number of countries where threats of violence were used to enforce religious norms and a global decline in the incidence of mob violence related to religion
• There was an overall decline in government restrictions on religion
• The Middle East and North Africa region continued to have the highest median level of government restrictions on religion
• China had the highest level of government restrictions in 2014
• Pakistan had the highest level of social hostilities involving religion
• Christians and Muslims faced harassment in the largest number of countries
• Harassment of Jews continued to increase in 2014.

Read the full report

Read more about the report

Most countries in the world have some form of government restrictions on religion, but each year a few countries stand out as having particularly extensive restrictions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Harassment or intimidation of specific religious groups occurred in 159 countries in 2014, down slightly from 2013 (164).

Christians and Muslims were harassed in the most countries in 2014. The total number of countries where Christians were harassed increased, while it stayed about the same for Muslims. Christians were harassed in 108 countries in 2014, up from 102 in 2013. Muslims were harassed in 100, compared with 99 in 2013.

The number of countries in which Jews were harassed continued to increase. Jews, who make up 0.2% of the world’s population, were harassed in 81 countries (up from 77 in 2013 and 71 in 2012).

There was an increase in the number of countries in which Hindus were harassed, from nine in 2013 to 14 in 2014. The number of countries in which Buddhists were harassed stayed roughly the same (12 in 2013, compared with 10 in 2014).

 

Among the world’s 25 most populous countries (which contain 74% of the world’s population), Egypt, Indonesia, Pakistan, Russia and Turkey stand out as having the highest levels restrictions on religion (as of the end of 2014) when both government restrictions and social hostilities are taken into account.

The film Defending Shia Rights: Journey to the UN was first shown on Ahlulbayt TV on 19 June 2016. This documentary was set up to encourage the next generation of Shia Muslims to stand up against their discrimination and persecution around the world and get engaged with defending human rights.

Katharine Thane of the APPG for International Freedom of Religion or Belief was interviewed by the film-makers: this short film (4 minutes) highlights her contributions

View the full film (48 minutes)

In a media release issued today the APPG for International Freedom of Religion or Belief expressed deep concern about the revocation of citizenship from Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim, the most senior Shia religious figure in Bahrain, and continuing discrimination against the Shia community in Bahrain.

The All Party Group also expressed concern about the ongoing forced suspension of imam-led prayers in Shia mosques, initially implemented on Friday, and understands this to be a flagrant violation of Article 18 of the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

The Group understands this act by the Bahrain Government to be a major escalation in a worrying trend of discrimination against the majority Shia Bahraini community on the grounds of religion or belief.

The Group joins with the UN, UK Sunni and Shia leaders and others in urging authorities to seek a de-escalation of the situation.

Since 2014 as many as 250 individuals have had their citizenship revoked, but this most recent move has sparked protests, increased tension between Bahrain and Iran and has been widely reported to have triggered an increase in sectarian tensions across the country.

The All Party Group condemns all violations of freedom of religion or belief and encourages all sides to take peaceful steps in the region to improve stability and promote human rights, including the right to freedom of religion or belief, enshrined and signed by Bahrain under international law.

UK Sunni and Shia leaders have also condemned the harassment of spiritual leader Ayatollah Isa Qassim of Bahrain – Read their statement.

China’s government plans to appoint its own candidate as the next Dalai Lama. Free Tibet are calling on governments, religious authorities and organisations across the world to reject China’s plan, support the Tibetan people and ensure that no Chinese-appointed Dalai Lama will be given recognition anywhere in the world.

Free Tibet argue that China’s plan is in defiance of the deeply held wishes of the Tibetan people. The role has historically been filled by identifying the reincarnation of the previous Dalai Lama after his death. The current 14th Dalai Lama has made clear that no Chinese appointed Dalai Lama will be the legitimate leader of Tibetan Buddhism.

Free Tibet state “China already punishes Tibetans for practicing their religion as they choose. Its aim is to force a puppet Dalai Lama on Tibetans to neutralise Tibetan Buddhism’s independence and cement its hold on Tibet. It also hopes to undermine worldwide support for the Tibetan cause. Interfering in the selection of the Dalai Lama is a political act, a profound insult to the Tibetan people’s culture, desires and beliefs and a gross abuse of their religious freedom. It is vital that China understands that its plan will fail.”

In April President Xi Jinping said “Religious groups… must adhere to the leadership of the Communist Party of China.”

Beyond Belief, Free Tibet’s report, argues that “Religion is one of the most distinctive and important aspects of Tibet’s unique culture. For the Chinese government, however, religion in Tibet is a political and security issue. Subduing monasteries, monks and nuns and controlling how Tibetans practice their religion is central to its plans to eliminate Tibetan resistance to its rule.

The US State Department’s 2016 report on international religious freedom describes the repression of religious freedom in Tibet as “severe”. It records “reports of extrajudicial killings, prolonged detention without trial, torture, and arrests of individuals due to their religious practices”.

China’s control and suppression of Tibetan religious life is based on much more than violence. All aspects of Tibetan Buddhism are subject to state control and China has even claimed the right to appoint the leader of Tibetan Buddhism, the Dalai Lama.”

Read Beyond Belief: Religious Freedom in Tibet

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His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom, delivered the keynote address on the situation of Christians in the Middle East at the annual National Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast (NPPB) on 14 June 2016.

During his address Bishop Angaelos spoke specifically on the persecution of Christians and minority communities, and the millions subsequently displaced and living as refugees. There were over 700 attendees, including Members of the House of Lords, House of Commons, civic and faith leaders, ambassadors, and CEOs of advocacy organisations and NGOs. The Archbishop of Canterbury was also in attendance. The gathering  was welcomed by the Lord Speaker, the Speaker of the House of Commons, and Fiona Bruce MP, Chair of this year’s Parliamentary Breakfast.

The NPPB is the largest gathering of any kind in parliament throughout the year. The event is held with the permission of the Speaker and the Lord Speaker and is an annual recognition of the contribution that Christianity makes to the national life of the United Kingdom. While themes of previous events have focused on topics of national impact, this is the first to address a global issue of this scale.

In his welcome, The Right Hon John Bercow, Speaker of the House of Commons, said:

“‘The Church in the Middle East’ is a theme never more relevant than it is today. It is a magnificently chosen theme that will continue to be relevant at least until some of the prevailing discord…of which certainly there is an abundance, is either moderated or better still overcome altogether.”

In her welcome, The Lord Speaker, The Baroness D’Souza said:

“This breakfast theme…could not be more timely to explore the need for tolerance and understanding. I greatly look forward to hearing…as to how we make steps, if not leaps, towards this.”

In her welcome, Fiona Bruce MP highlighted that the attendance at this year’s Breakfast surpassed previous years, with over 150 MPs and peers and 730 people in attendance, saying:

“It is particularly encouraging that so many Members of Parliament are attending together with religious leaders from their constituencies…the fact that so many parliamentarians and peers are here today does, I believe, confirm their deep concern…”

“Let us seek to ensure that we in the United Kingdom are doing everything we can to stand up and be a voice for the voiceless in the Middle East, both to those who share our Faith, and those of other faiths or none.”

In his address, Bishop Angaelos spoke directly to parliamentarians saying:

“We often hold you to account for the decisions you make, yet often forget to hold ourselves to account to pray for you as you make those decisions. In the coming weeks those prayers will be more important because of the decisions that are going to be made for the future of Britain.”

Speaking of Christians in the Middle East, Bishop Angaelos said:

“Christians in the Middle East are indigenous people and reject minority status. They see themselves as intrinsic members, and indigenous peoples.”

He continued:

“As religious and civic leaders, we have an opportunity and responsibility to change the narrative and expectation of the Middle East from one of hopelessness and conflict to one of hope and promise.

We need to address the reality of this situation, that there has been a systemic, yet gradual prejudice, marginalisation and alienation of Christians and minorities allowed to continue over decades. This does not have to continue on our watch…”

Calling for collaboration, he went on to say:

“We must realise that the current situation is greater than us all; it needs us all to work together…There can no longer be a concept of ‘over there’ because families of those affected in the Middle East are members of your constituencies, our Churches, and our society as a whole…We are one very large community…our paths cross, our experience is one and our journey is one that we must share.”

“Regardless of which House one sits in, which Church one worships in, or indeed which faith one does or does not have, we must work together for the freedom and dignity of human life and speak with a collaborative voice.”

Elaborating of the calling and responsibility of Christians to advocate indiscriminately for all, Bishop Angaelos said:

“We are called in Scripture (Luke 4:18) to follow in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who came to ‘preach the gospel to the poor…heal the broken-hearted…proclaim liberty to the captives…set at liberty those oppressed.’ To be a Christian is to be an exceptional human being at the service of all humanity, for even the ‘Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many’ (Mark 10:45)”

“Our struggle is not just for Christians, but for human dignity. To pursue God-given rights is to serve the whole of humanity indiscriminately. As a Christian I cannot be selective as to who I love, honour or even forgive, as we are instructed by our Lord to ‘love our neighbour as ourselves.’ “There is no other commandment greater…” (Mark 12:31).

Shedding light on the hopeful witness of Christians in the Middle East, Bishop Angaelos concluded:

“The Church is defiant, the Church is resilient, the Church is alive.”

After the event Bishop Angaelos spoke to 50 High Commissioners and Ambassadors from a variety of faith traditions at a separate event in the State Rooms of the Palace of Westminster.

 

Can you name the twelve apostles? When is Pentecost? How many books are there in the Bible? Who betrayed Jesus to the Romans?

These are some of the questions asked of asylum-seekers during their interview with the Home Office as part of their application to stay in the UK. Whilst they may seem reasonable, a new report reveals that such questions, often referred to as “Bible trivia”, are a very poor way of assessing a conversion asylum claim and result in wrong decisions and expensive appeals.

An enquiry was set up to look at the quality of the assessment of religion-based asylum claims in the UK and the impact of the asylum procedure on the fairness and quality of decision-making.

Evidence was submitted to the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for International Freedom of Religion or Belief and the Asylum Advocacy Group (AAG) by a wide range of stakeholders holding a broad spectrum of religious beliefs and no beliefs as well as asylum seekers; both those going through the judicial system and those who have been granted leave to stay in the UK.

Statements and claims from all parties were scrutinised alongside consideration of UK standards in light of international policy and law.

While the law is clear that religious persecution constitutes grounds for asylum, assessment of religion-based asylum applications is complex and challenging due to the inherently internal and personal nature of religion and belief. This is compounded by the fact that persecution on the basis of religion or belief encompasses a wide range of human rights violations and relates to complex dynamics of communal identities, politics, conflicts and radical organisations.

The most recent Home Office guidance on assessing credibility and refugee status from January (and March) 2015, does include more nuanced guidance regarding those seeking asylum on the basis of religious persecution.

Additionally, guidance pertaining to credibility is not always followed in practice. Further training is required to ensure that UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) decision-making is consistent with UKVI guidance. This report demonstrates that there is a disparity between Home Office policy guidelines and what is actually happening in practice.

RECOMMENDATIONS

The report concludes with recommendations to the Home Secretary that include:

• Keep a record of the number of asylum claims made on the basis of religious persecution as well as the acceptance vs. rejection rate of such cases so as to assess the true scale of such claims and how sensitively such claims are being dealt with.
• Provide focused training on freedom of religion or belief and assessments of religious freedom and persecution based asylum applications to decision-makers.
• Ensure that the policy guidelines and judicial decisions that relate to freedom of religion or belief cases are used by decision-makers.
• Ensure that the case workers and interpreters used by the Home Office and decision-makers uphold the same standards of professional conduct expected from Home Office staff.
• Ensure that cases involving religious persecution are also checked by an expert supervisor to ensure consistency and due process in all cases.
• Work with faith-communities and charities specialising in freedom of religion or belief to check credibility of applicants, and keep up to date information on global developments.
• Ensure that applicants should not be caused unnecessary distress and should feel able to speak freely, especially in cases where the case worker/interpreter is a member of the religious community that has carried out the applicant’s persecution.
• In cases where individuals have been granted asylum on grounds of religious persecution, the UK Home Office should fast-track dependents’ applications and visas for them to join the successful applicant. While it is of course welcome that dependents are permitted to settle outside the country in which they are persecuted, the current 3 – 6 month processing period of dependents’ applications is a time during which the applicants may also be at real risk of persecution.

Read the report in full

Read a summary

WRITTEN QUESTIONS

Stuart McDonald Shadow SNP Spokesperson (Immigration, Asylum and Border Control) (9 June)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the implications for the Government’s policy on asylum of the report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief, entitled Asylum report: inadequate assessment of religion-based claims, published in June 2016.

James Brokenshire Minister of State (Home Office) (Security and Immigration)

We are currently carefully considering the report and its recommendations. The report acknowledges the progress made by the Home Office with regards to guidance and training provided to its staff but highlighted the Group’s view that there were some discrepancies between the Home Office policy and practice.

The Home Office carefully considers all asylum claims on their individual merits and grants protection for those who genuinely need it, in accordance with our international obligations under the Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). In every asylum case the particular circumstances of the individual are considered in light of published country information, which includes issues relating specifically to religious freedoms.

Published guidance on the interviewing and consideration of religious claims is regularly reviewed and takes into consideration the views of religious groups and other stakeholders.

All asylum decision makers are currently receiving credibility training. This course trains decision makers on how to assess the evidential value of their interview questions (including when assessing religious based claims and religious conversion), the various reasons why someone may not come across as credible in an asylum interview and discusses issues such as speculation and implausibility. The 5-week Foundation Training Programme (FTP) for new decision makers trains staff on all aspects of the asylum decision making process, including religious based claims and religious conversion has been endorsed by the UNHCR.

Alan Brown (Kilmarnock and Loudoun)[N] (13 June)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that asylum caseworkers are trained to assess the claims of people who are seeking asylum on the grounds of persecution relating to religion or belief.

James Brokenshire

The Home Office carefully considers all asylum claims on their individual merits, including claims based on religious persecution. We grant protection to those who genuinely need it in accordance with our international obligations under the Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

Published guidance on the interviewing and consideration of asylum claims is regularly reviewed and takes into consideration the views of stakeholders, including religious groups. The current training and support available for asylum caseworkers includes a UNHCR endorsed Foundation Training Programme. This, and follow-on courses, covers all aspects of the asylum interview and decision making process, including the assessment of credibility and country information in religious based claims. Real-life case studies and role-play are used throughout the training programme to reinforce knowledge and understanding of the issues.

We are currently carefully considering the APPG report and its recommendations and will provide a response in due course.

“I can assure hon. Members that I and my officials take the findings in the all-party group’s report extremely seriously”  Minister for Immigration, Robert Goodwill, 19 July

“In June 2016 The Home Office received the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for International Freedom of Religion’s report, ‘Fleeing persecution: Asylum claims in the UK on religious freedom grounds’. We are carefully considering the report and its recommendations and will provide a response in due course, including whether we will consider whether any changes to the way we handle religious-based claims are appropriate.

The report acknowledges the progress made by the Home Office with regards to guidance and training provided to its staff but highlighted the Group’s view that there were some discrepancies between the Home Office policy and practice.

The Home Office carefully considers all asylum claims on their individual merits and grants protection for those who genuinely need it, in accordance with our international obligations under the Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). In every asylum case the particular circumstances of the individual are considered in light of published country information, which includes issues relating specifically to religious freedoms.

Published guidance on the interviewing and consideration of religious claims is regularly reviewed and takes into consideration the views of religious groups and other stakeholders.”  

Minister for Immigration, Robert Goodwill, 21 July 2016. 

MEDIA COVERAGE

BBC TV News Asylum claims from Christian converts ‘being rejected’
BBC News Are Christian converts seeking asylum getting a raw deal?
BBC Radio 4 Sunday (begins 26:20)
The Telegraph Asylum claims from Christian converts being rejected if they cannot recite the Ten Commandments
The Independent Christian convert asylum seekers ‘asked to name colour of Bible cover’ as MPs warn claims are assessed on ‘trivia’
The Guardian Refugees seeking asylum on religious grounds quizzed on ‘Bible trivia’
The Daily Mail: Officials are REJECTING asylum claims from Christian converts if they are unable to recite the Ten Commandments
Times Live (South Africa) Christian converts rejected
The Christian Times  Christian converts seeking asylum quizzed with Bible trivia in the U.K.
Christian Today Christian asylum seekers denied entry to UK if they cannot recite ten commandments   Home Office interpreters accused of deliberately jeopardising asylum claims
Premier  Home Office urged to change asylum process for Christian converts
Pakistan Christian Post  Converts to Christianity seeking asylum in the UK rejected on very spurious grounds
Christianity Today  Can You Name All Ten Commandments? If Not, This (and 18 Other Questions) Could Get You Deported
The Christian Institute  Parliamentary group: ‘Govt’s religious literacy is lacking’
The Blaze  If You’re a Christian Convert Seeking Asylum in the UK, You Might Want to Brush Up on Your Bible Trivia
CrossMap  UK Asylum Claims From Christian Converts Being Rejected If They Cannot Recite The Ten Commandments
Christianity Daily  Christian Asylum Seekers Rejected if Not Well Versed with Bible Trivia
Independent Catholic News  House of Lords launch report on religion-based asylum application process
Christian Examiner   No fake Christian refuges: UK tests asylum seekers
Huffington Post  Refugees Seeking U.K. Asylum May Be Thwarted By Religious Bias

Syria: Religious Freedom

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to ensure religious minorities are protected in Syria.

Answered by: Mr Tobias Ellwood  02 June 2016

Syria’s conflict has developed from peaceful protests against the government in 2011 to a violent insurgency that has complex international angles. Asad’s brutal actions have fuelled sectarian violence and the growth of Daesh. His regime is ultimately responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of civilians. We support the efforts of the UN Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan De Mistura, to seek agreement on a process of political transition in Syria. We are clear that there can be no military solution to the conflict. The UN led negotiations remain the best opportunity to end the conflict and achieve political transition away from Asad, leading to an inclusive government which can represent all Syrians.

The UK, as a core member of the International Syria Support Group has agreed that protecting the rights of all Syrians, regardless of ethnicity or religious denomination is fundamental. This means seeking to ensure that Syrian minorities are included and safeguarded as the political process progresses. We are supporting non-governmental efforts to promote dialogue between different ethnic and sectarian groups in Syria, as we seek further progress on a political settlement.

Syria: Peace Negotiations

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if the Government will raise the link between religious freedom and the degree of broader political liberalisation and stability during peace talks on Syria.

Answered by: Mr Tobias Ellwood on 02 June 2016

United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254, which the UK supported, urges all parties to the UN-facilitated political process to adhere to the principle identified by the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) to protect the rights of all Syrians, regardless of ethnicity or religious denomination. Through our membership of the ISSG we will continue to seek to ensure that Syrian minorities will be included and safeguarded as the political process progresses. In our contact with members of the Syrian opposition, who have signed up to the Geneva Communiqué, we have maintained a strong line on our commitment to pluralism and the need to ensure that Freedom of Religion or Belief is enshrined as a constitutional right. A proportion of the High Negotiations Council, including members of the negotiating team, are drawn from religious minority groups in Syria’s richly diverse population.

Syria: Armed Conflict
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to tackle (a) all the root causes of the conflict and (b) religious persecution of minority faiths in Syria.

Answered by: Mr Tobias Ellwood on 02 June 2016
Syria’s conflict has developed from peaceful protests against the government in 2011 to a violent insurgency that has complex international angles. Asad’s brutal actions have fuelled sectarian violence and the growth of Daesh. His regime is ultimately responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of civilians. We support the efforts of the UN Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan De Mistura, to seek agreement on a process of political transition in Syria. We are clear that there can be no military solution to the conflict. The UN led negotiations remain the best opportunity to end the conflict and achieve political transition away from Asad, leading to an inclusive government which can represent all Syrians.

The UK, as a core member of the International Syria Support Group has agreed that protecting the rights of all Syrians, regardless of ethnicity or religious denomination is fundamental. This means seeking to ensure that Syrian minorities are included and safeguarded as the political process progresses. We are supporting non-governmental efforts to promote dialogue between different ethnic and sectarian groups in Syria, as we seek further progress on a political settlement.

Syria: Religious Freedom

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to promote pluralism and religious freedom in Syria.

Answered by: Mr Tobias Ellwood on 01 June 2016

United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254, which we supported, urges all parties to the UN-facilitated political process to adhere to the principle identified by the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) to protect the rights of all Syrians, regardless of ethnicity or religious denomination. Through our membership of the ISSG we will focus all our efforts on ensuring that Syrian minorities are included and safeguarded as the political process progresses. In our contact with members of the Syrian opposition who have signed up to the Geneva Communiqué, we have maintained a strong line on our commitment to pluralism, and the need to ensure that Freedom of Religion or Belief is enshrined as a constitutional right. A proportion of the High Negotiations Council, including members of the negotiating team, are drawn from religious minority groups in Syria’s richly diverse population. We are also supporting non-governmental efforts to promote dialogue between different ethnic and sectarian groups and education on tolerance, integration and pluralism.

Syria: Christianity

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what information he holds on the number of Christians in Aleppo.

Answered by: Mr Tobias Ellwood on: 02 June 2016

There is a lack of reliable information on the number of Christians in Aleppo. At a press conference at the UN in Geneva in March 2016 the Chaldean Bishop of Aleppo, Antoine Audo (also President of Caritas Syria), estimated that the population of Christians in Aleppo had fallen from 160,000 pre-conflict to only 40,000 in 2016. My noble friend, the Rt Hon. Baroness Anelay of St Johns recently met with Armenian Church leaders, including one from Aleppo, who stated his congregation had fallen by 50%.
Overall, prior to the conflict, Christians numbered about 2.2 million — 10% of Syria’s population. 40% of the Christian population have now left Syria. Many of the Christians left because of the widespread perception they supported the regime. Those remaining vehemently reject the claim.

Recent incidents affecting Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan and Indonesia have prompted this response:

The APPG for International Freedom of Religion or Belief strongly condemns the killing of Dawood Ahmad, an Ahmadi Muslim, who was shot dead on 24 May by unidentified assailants on the basis of his beliefs.*

The murder of Mr Ahmad is indicative of the intolerance within Pakistan against the Ahmadi Community. The Pakistani Constitution and Penal Code place explicit restrictions upon Ahmadis subjecting them to overt state-sanctioned discrimination and persecution. They are declared as “non-Muslims” and cannot refer to themselves as Muslim or disseminate literature regarding their faith.

The APPG also remains concerned about the 80 year old Mr Abdul Shakoor who remains in prison since the beginning of 2016 after being falsely accused of selling an Ahmadiyya commentary on the Holy Qur’an. Mr Shakoor’s case is just one of many and highlights the reforms needed in the Pakistani Constitution to redress the violation of Ahmadis’ right to exercise their religion or belief.

The APPG urges the Pakistani government to immediately release Mr Shakoor and drop all charges against him.

The culture of discrimination and persecution against Ahmadis is not exclusive to Pakistan. In Indonesia on 23 May, a mob attacked the Al-Kautsar Ahmadi mosque in Central Java. While this incident was the first attack on Ahmadis in Central Java, the Setara Institute states that the attack adds to a lengthy list of attacks conducted by hardliners against Ahmadi groups across the country. They highlight that this now makes a total of 114 attacks against Ahmadis between 2007 and 2016.

The APPG urges the Indonesian Government to ensure that Ahmadis and all minority groups are given adequate protection and to properly prosecute those engaging in the persecution of minorities and will write to the Indonesian Ambassador to the UK to this effect.

*A press release from www.persecutionofahmadis.org reads

Karachi: An Ahmadi, Dawood Ahmad murdered outside his house due to religious hatred

Chenab Nagar: (PR) Mr. Dawood Ahmad S/O Haji Ghulam Muhiyuddin, 55, was shot dead in Gulzar Hijri, Karachi last night by unidentified assailants due to religious hatred. He was waiting for his friend outside his house when two unidentified men came on a motorbike, the man sitting behind disembarked and opened fire at him, and they fled thereafter. Three bullets hit him, one in the chest, two in the abdomen. The assailants also fired shots at Mr. Ahmad’s friend who had already reached there as he hurried to help him. Both were rushed to the hospital. Mr. Dawood was critically injured due to the shots that damaged his entrails and liver and loss of blood due to the chest injury. He was operated upon but did not survive. His friend was also operated upon; he is stable now. The murdered victim is survived by his three sons; his wife died a few years ago. Mr. Ahmad was a noble, practicing Ahmadi who had no personal vendetta with anyone. He was target killed solely for being an Ahmadi. Incidents of shooting Ahmadis have happened in this area in the past as well. His remains will be brought to Rabwah for burial.

Mr. Saleemuddin, the spokesman of Jamaat Ahmadiyya strongly condemned this distressing incident and expressed deep grief. He said, “Mischievous and baseless propaganda is going on all over the country against Ahmadis; this is the basic reason of such grievous incidents. It was announced in the National Action plan that action would be taken against hate promoters but it is sad to say that elements who promote hate against Ahmadis are not only free but are busy spreading hateful propaganda openly without any fear. Thirty Ahmadis have been killed in Karachi and not a single murderer has been brought to justice till now. Consequently extremist elements feel encouraged.” He demanded of the administration that Dawood’s killers be arrested immediately and brought to justice.

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what resources his Department allocates to promoting and upholding freedom of religion or belief within the countries with which it works.

Answered by: Mr David Lidington Answered on: 26 May 2016

Human Rights are part of the everyday work of all British diplomats. We work intensively on freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) through the UN, the EU and the OSCE; and in individual countries, prioritising what works in local circumstances. In many parts of the world, we have supported projects through the Magna Carta Fund for Human Rights and Democracy. In the current financial year, we have allocated almost £900,000 to projects in this area.

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM: FEMALES
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect of violations of freedom of religion or belief on women; and what his Department is doing to tackle such violations.

Answered by: Mr David Lidington Answered on: 26 May 2016

There are clear examples where the impact of violations of freedom of religion or belief falls particularly heavily on women – such as treatment of women by Daesh. Under the Magna Carta Fund for Human Rights and Democracy, FCO funds projects to defend freedom of religion or belief, including the protection of the rights of women. For example, the FCO recently agreed to fund a project this financial year that tackles gender- based violence and discrimination in Egypt, Jordan and Tunisia.

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department takes to ensure that its policies do not encourage discrimination of religion or belief.

Answered by: Mr David Lidington Answered on: 26 May 2016

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office carefully assesses the probable impact of all policy decisions and actions, and avoids taking any decision or action likely to encourage discrimination of any kind, including on grounds of religion or belief.

IRAN: BAHA’I FAITH
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department has made representations to the Iranian government on the imprisonment of seven Bahá’í leaders.

Answered by: Mr Tobias Ellwood Answered on: 26 May 2016

The UK regularly raises our concerns at the treatment of the Baha’i community in Iran. We call on Iran to cease harassment of all religious minorities and to fulfil its international and domestic obligations to allow freedom of religion to all Iranians.

IRAN CHRISTIANITY
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Iranian government on the imprisonment of Ebrahim Firouzi and other Christians in that country.

Answered by: Mr Tobias Ellwood Answered on: 26 May 2016

I discuss many issues with my Iranian counterpart. Restriction of freedom of expression, religion and belief continue to cause concern. I have repeatedly called on the Iranian government to end all persecution of individuals on the basis of their faith, and to guarantee the human rights of all Iranians, regardless of belief

MEXICO: RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he made and received during his visit to Mexico in May 2016 on upholding the right to freedom of religion or belief in that country.

Answered by: Mr Hugo Swire Answered on: 27 May 2016

The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) raised human rights and the rule of law in meetings with the Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Education, Social Development and the Attorney General. Discussions focused on the significant security and justice challenges Mexico faces, particularly in terms of impunity. He also raised concerns relating to the disappearance of 43 students in Iguala in September 2014. He did not raise freedom of religion or belief on this occasion. I also raised our human rights concerns with the Minister for Public Administration during his visit to London on 12 May. Our Embassy in Mexico regularly discusses the full range of human rights and rule of law issues, including freedom of religion and belief, with Mexican counterparts and civil society.

BANGLADESH: RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has to engage with international partners to tackle the persecution of secularists or of people with no faith in Bangladesh.

Answered by: Mr Hugo Swire Answered on: 27 May 2016

As I said to the House on 24 May, there is more we can do to help the Government of Bangladesh to tackle the challenges they face. I raised my concerns about the situation there most recently with the Bangladesh High Commissioner on 24 May.
Our High Commission in Dhaka regularly meets international partners to discuss the treatment of secular activists and minority groups in Bangladesh. Most recently, on 22 May, our High Commissioner met Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister, Abul Hassan Mahmud Ali, with other EU Ambassadors, to discuss signs that intolerance across Bangladesh is increasing

In September 2015, officials from the British High Commission in Dhaka met Heiner Bielefeldt, UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, during his visit to Bangladesh. We urge the Government of Bangladesh to implement the recommendations in his report, which includes a call for the government to “protect the vibrant civil society and pluralistic society in Bangladesh”.

I want to focus today on the human right of freedom of religion or belief, and to declare my particular interest as director of a Commonwealth initiative on that issue. The Commonwealth is an underutilised network of 53 nations, large and small, with a diversity of cultures and it includes Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and Christian-majority democracies. As the new Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, the noble and learned Baroness, Lady Scotland, most recently put it, it is well equipped to be,

“the voice for everyone who shares our common values and hopes”.

However, in too many Commonwealth countries, people still face legal restrictions on their ability to practise their religion and discrimination on religious grounds, or are the victims of religiously motivated violence. We cannot ignore the religious element in the killings carried out by Boko Haram, nor the Easter Sunday suicide bombing in Lahore—targeting Christians but with overwhelmingly Muslim victims—nor, closer to home, the killing of the Ahmadi shopkeeper, Asad Shah, in Glasgow. The recent series of killings in Bangladesh of atheist, humanistic and secularistic writers, bloggers, academics and campaigners is not just a violation of freedom of expression, but a violation of the freedom not to hold any religious belief at all should you so choose.

Yet at a time when so many of the human rights challenges that we face both in the UK and around the world have a freedom of religion or belief dimension, the global picture on how seriously the issue is taken, as a key human rights issue in its own right, is disappointingly mixed. While the European Union has created a new special envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion or belief outside of the EU, Canada has recently disbanded its Office of Religious Freedom, subsuming it into a new Office for Human Rights, Freedoms and Inclusion. I was pleased to see freedom of religion or belief given a prominent place in the United Kingdom’s pledges in our bid for re-election to the UN Human Rights Council, and I pay particular tribute to the work of the UN Special Rapporteur Heiner Bielefeldt, who will soon finish in that post.

However, as the UN has no legally binding convention on freedom of religion or belief to enforce, I hope that the nimble network of parliamentary democracies with shared language and legal systems could be looked at as a much better multilateral forum for the UK to focus on rather than the bureaucratic heavyweights of the EU and the UN. This network of trusted friends should enable us to do much more behind the scenes to implement effective solutions to these problems.

The noble and learned Baroness, Lady Scotland, the new Commonwealth Secretary-General, certainly gave greater profile to the Commonwealth during the recent anti-corruption summit. Her determination to champion human rights, good governance and the rule of law in line with the Commonwealth charter, with the UK hosting the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, is an opportunity not to be missed. Will my noble friend please seek a meeting with the new Secretary-General to discuss the promotion of human rights and, in particular, freedom of religion or belief in the Commonwealth?

As well as key networks such as the Commonwealth, there are key strategic countries—none more so than the home of Sunni theology, Egypt. President al-Sisi has one of the most difficult jobs at the moment, and his challenging speech on religious tolerance to the Al-Azhar University is to be commended. But the arrest in the last few days of Mina Thabet, a prominent human rights activist, especially on freedom of religion or belief in Egypt is very worrying. Will the Minister outline whether Her Majesty’s Government will meet the Government of Egypt to make representations about his arrest?

I pay tribute to the hard work carried out by my noble friend the Minister, but I would be grateful for the assurance, due to the recent publication of the Foreign Affairs Committee report, that that hard work is matched by keen leadership by the Foreign Secretary.

Baroness Berridge, 23 May 2016