A joint report by five organisations, including APPG stakeholders Middle East Concern, Open Doors and CSW, highlights ongoing violations of religious freedom and discrimination against religious minorities in Iran. In the report, submitted to the UN’s Human Rights Commission in preparation for its next session of meetings, the organisations call on the commission to ask…
A letter has been sent to UK government minister Lord Ahmad highlighting the situation of religious minorities around the world, which, it states, has deteriorated due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The letter also references yesterday’s US Executive Order on “Advancing International Religious Freedom,” which elevates the US government’s prioritisation of religious freedom in its foreign…
The UK All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) urges the European Commission to renew the mandate of the Special Envoy on FoRB outside the EU. Dr Ján Figel was appointed the European Commission’s first Special Envoy for the promotion of FoRB outside the EU, following a resolution adopted by the…
As efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19 continue, the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief calls on Governments to fight the spread of the disease and to honour human rights by releasing all those who are imprisoned for their religion or beliefs. Article 18 of the International Covenant on…
The co-founders of the Coalition for Genocide Response, Lord Alton, Luke de Pulford and Ewelina Ochab, have launched a new webinar series ’40 Minutes on Human Rights with…’ The first guest speaker, the Bishop of Truro, Rt. Rev. Philip Mounstephen, spoke on the issue of violations of the right to Freedom of Religion or Belief…
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has released its 2020 Annual Report, documenting significant developments during 2019, including remarkable progress in Sudan and a sharp downward turn in India, and making recommendations to enhance the U.S. government’s promotion of freedom of religion or belief abroad in 2020. “We are encouraged by the…
Jim Shannon MP – Article in today’s Sunday Telegraph Over my ten years as an MP, the Covid-19 crisis is surely one of the most difficult and surreal I have experienced. Constituents have told me of their physical suffering, of job losses, and the pain of not being able to visit their loved ones. For…
Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP) I beg to move, That this House has considered freedom of religion or belief. I put on record my thanks to all the hon. Members who are here today, as well as to the Minister—who I spoke to yesterday, and has spoken to me before—for their interest in the vital right…
Westminster Hall 11 March 2020 Mark Pritchard (The Wrekin) (Con) I beg to move, That this House has considered China’s policy on its Uighur population. I am grateful to the Speaker for allowing the House time to discuss this important and timely issue. Officially, according to the Chinese state, Uighurs have been resident in China…
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mrs Heather Wheeler) I beg to move, That this House has considered the matter of the persecution of Christians. I am very grateful to all hon. Members who want to contribute to this debate today. The suffering of men, women and children persecuted for their faith…