News

China: Uighur Internment Camps

23 September 2020

The Lord Bishop of St Albans
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the condition of Uighur internment camps in Xinjiang in China.

The Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon) (Con)
My Lords, there are reports of torture and overcrowding in detention centres in Xinjiang, where over a million Uighurs are extrajudicially detained. We have repeatedly condemned the abuses of human rights perpetrated against the Uighurs in Xinjiang and again call upon China to immediately allow UN observers unfettered access to the region and to end extrajudicial detention.

The Lord Bishop of St Albans [V]
I thank the Minister for his reply. The International Olympic Committee’s charter states that its goal is to

“place sport at the centre of harmonious development … with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity.”

Given that the Chinese Communist Party’s treatment of the Muslim Uighur minority in Xinjiang contravenes the principles of preserving human dignity, will the Government consider holding the IOC to account by pushing for a review of its decision to hold the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in the People’s Republic of China?

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con)
My Lords, as the right reverend Prelate will know, any representation to the IOC would be a matter for the National Olympic Committee. The British Olympic Association operates ​independently of the Government. However, ensuring human dignity should be the approach of the Olympic committee or, indeed, any Government.

Baroness Bakewell (Lab) [V]
My Lords, I am co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Humanist Group. Does the Minister acknowledge the strength of feeling of people of all faiths on this matter? Will the Government persist in opposing the crimes of blasphemy and apostasy around the world, particularly in the case of Mubarak Bala, a humanist arrested for blasphemy in Nigeria?

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con)
I can assure the noble Baroness that the Government’s priority is, and will remain, to stand up against abuses of all human rights and for freedom of religion or belief anywhere in the world.

Baroness Northover (LD)
My Lords, the noble Lord will now be very familiar with the China Tribunal’s conclusions on the forced removal of organs from the Uighurs and others. Are the Government now taking this report seriously? Are the Magnitsky sanctions being considered for those who may be involved in this appalling practice?

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con)
My Lords, on the noble Baroness’s second point, I cannot speculate on designations. On the organ harvesting report, I have, as she knows, met with Sir Geoffrey Nice. We have also carefully considered the group’s report of 1 March. That report contains numerous disturbing allegations of serious human rights abuses, including sexual violence, torture, and forced DNA testing. After reviewing the situation this morning, I have again written formally to the World Health Organization

Lord Polak (Con)
My Lords, the appalling treatment of the Uighur Muslims by the Chinese regime is horrific. Yet China is expected to be re-elected to the Human Rights Council next month. Sadly, it seems that nothing can be done to halt the increasingly sinister influence of China within UN structures, seriously undermining the UN’s credibility. Will the Minister confirm that China is continuing to block the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights from having a presence in China? Will he also confirm that we will not support China’s election to the Human Rights Council?

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con)
My Lords, on the issue of election to the Human Rights Council, I assure my noble friend we consider carefully all countries’ policies on standing up for human rights both internationally and domestically. On his earlier point, I spoke with High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet last week, and we have made the point directly to her that we continue to lobby for her unfettered access in Xinjiang.

In terms of the UN machinery generally, the United Kingdom has led on two statements—the only joint statements at the UN on Xinjiang—once last year and once this year in June at the Human Rights Council. ​I am intending to raise the issue in the UK’s national statement at the 45th session of the UNHRC, which is scheduled shortly.

Lord Alton of Liverpool (CB)
My Lords, I should mention I am vice-chairman of the all-party group on the Uighurs.

In the light of the near impossibility of arriving at a legal determination of alleged genocide or crimes against humanity in the Uyghur region, which Ministers in the other place have acknowledged, will the Minister join me in welcoming the new initiative of Sir Geoffrey Nice QC in setting up the Uighur tribunal? Will he confirm that the Government will do everything possible to co-operate with the tribunal, including providing evidence and agreeing to take seriously what will be a rigorous and impartial judgment when the process is completed?

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con)
My Lords, I am fully aware of the formation of this new inquiry, and we are looking at it carefully. I am discussing our approach with officials. We intend to attend the inquiry as we did the inquiry on organ harvesting.

Lord Collins of Highbury (Lab)
My Lords, I welcome the fact that the Minister has written to the WHO about forced organ harvesting. But it is not enough to write with the evidence; there needs to be concrete evidence. Would he argue with the WHO that this so-called self-assessment process needs to end, and that there ought to be independent verification of the harvesting of organs? Also, will he commit the Government to support my noble friend Lord Hunt and the noble Baroness, Lady Finlay, in making changes to the medicines Bill, which can address this issue and have concrete action to end this awful practice?

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con)
My Lords, on the latter issue of the medicines Bill, that will be discussed in your Lordships’ House; however, as a domestic piece of legislation, I do not think it is the right instrument with which to be looking at this issue, which is about international action. As for the World Health Organization, as I have said, we have taken steps. I will also seek a meeting with it to see what action can be taken. The evidence base is building, and it is clear that, if proven true, the abuses will be there for all to see. It is now important for the World Health Organization to consider the evidence carefully.

Baroness Smith of Newnham (LD) [V]
My Lords, returning to the original Question: could the Minister tell us what it would require for Her Majesty’s Government to analyse the treatment of the Uighurs as a potential genocide, and what it would take for them to raise that internationally?

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con)
My Lords, as I have already said, as well as raising this internationally, we are raising concerns bilaterally and directly, as my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary has done, with the Chinese Foreign Secretary and State ​Councillor. We are also raising this through multilateral fora, through the third committee at the UN and the Human Rights Council. On the specific definition of genocide, the noble Baroness is aware of the Government’s position that this is something for tribunals or judicial authorities to assess.

Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate (Non-Afl) [V]
My Lords, China has shown a callous disregard for the human rights of minority ethnic groups over a number of years. The evidence is now clearly overwhelming. Does the Minister not agree that the time is now right to instigate Magnitsky sanctions against those who perpetrate these indefensible wrongs against their own citizens? Words are clearly ineffective—this is time for decisive action.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con)
My Lords, as I have already said, I cannot speculate on future designations, but I am pleased that we have now initiated, through my right honourable friend’s efforts, a formal procedure through the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, to ensure that those who abuse human rights are held to account.

Baroness Warsi (Con)
My Lords, does my noble friend agree that states that do not live by basic international human rights standards should not have unfettered access to international trade markets? Is he aware of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which was recently passed by the US House of Representatives? Do Her Majesty’s Government have plans for similar legislation to be introduced here in the United Kingdom?

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con)
My Lords, my noble friend raises an important point. She will also be aware that it was through our support and initiation of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and our support for the evidence taken by a particular inquiry in Australia that we saw many companies changing their approach to trade initiatives, particularly in Xinjiang. We are looking at the US legislation carefully, and whatever the outcome of those discussions, I will write to my noble friend.

Baroness Deech (CB) [V]
My Lords, the tragedy of this is that we have seen it before—these steps towards genocide. It is even more tragic that the United Nations is impotent due to the position of China. The only thing I believe the Government can do is publish a list of those brands to which it is thought forced labour by the Uighurs is contributing and call on the population to boycott those brands and hopefully prevent their import.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con)
My Lords, I have already detailed the action the Government have taken, and I believe it is for companies to make their decisions in light of that evidence.

Baroness Cox
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief, Nigeria: Unfolding Genocide?, published on 15 June.

The Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon) (Con)
My Lords, the Government welcome the report and the detailed analysis of complex issues of intercommunal violence and terrorism in Nigeria. We condemn all incidents of violence and call on the Nigerian Government to do more to protect victims and hold perpetrators to account. The UK Government’s formal response to the report will emphasise our approach of supporting solutions that tackle the causes of conflict to reduce violence affecting Christian and, indeed, Muslim communities.

Baroness Cox (CB) [V]
My Lords, I thank the Minister for his reply, but we cannot ignore the chilling signs of the potential genocide in Nigeria. According to the International Committee on Nigeria, Islamist Fulani herders have killed 19,000 people across the country’s Middle Belt. I have visited four of the devastated villages in Plateau state and stood in the house where they had murdered the pastor.

Therefore, given the escalation, frequency, brutality and asymmetry of such attacks on Christian communities—and, indeed, Muslims—is it not time to give greater effect to our obligations as a signatory to the 1948 genocide convention and our duty to protect?

​Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con)
My Lords, I agree with the noble Baroness that this is important. I pay tribute to her work in Nigeria, and to that of others in your Lordships’ House. We condemn incidents of violence where religion is erroneously used to justify the worst of crimes and acts of terrorism and extremism. On genocide, as the noble Baroness will know, it is the UK Government’s policy not to unilaterally determine whether genocide has occurred, in line with the genocide convention. As she will know and as I have often said, this is a matter for competent courts and tribunals.

The Archbishop of Canterbury [V]
My Lords, like the Minister, I am grateful to the noble Baroness for raising this issue; she is tireless and fearless in standing up for the weakest and most vulnerable. While the issues of genocide are often ones of legal terminology, the situation in Nigeria is one of large-scale killing in many areas across all communities and for a wide variety of reasons, not all of which are religious. Would the Minister say how the very large numbers of UK passport holders in Nigeria—most with dual citizenship and families here—are protected and informed of the situation? Would he also say what priority the establishment of reconciliation will get in the allocation of overseas aid in the new department?

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con)
My Lords, first, I fully align myself with the remarks of the most reverend Primate and pay tribute to him for his tireless efforts on conflict resolution, not just in Nigeria but around the world. As he knows from our discussions, I share many of the views that he has articulated. On his specific questions, we are developing a new conflict, security and justice programme, which aims to reduce levels of violence through the development of more effective conflict-management systems, working in conjunction with key partners on the ground. On the issue of British nationals, apart from the focus on conflict management, we continue to update travel advice to inform British nationals intending to travel to Nigeria, providing, in particular, specific travel advice for different states within Nigeria.

Lord Farmer (Con)
My Lords, the Government continue to downplay the scale of the suffering endured by Christians in central belt states. Ministers refer to attacks by Fulani herders as

“a consequence of population growth”.—[Official Report, 11/7/19; col. 1958.]

They have also referred to them as a consequence of “land and water disputes”. This does not reflect the reality on the ground, identified by local observers as a campaign of ethno-religious cleansing. Will the Minister ensure that the Government revisit the characterisation of this violence to acknowledge the significance of the perpetrators’ ferocious ideology?

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con)
First, I assure my noble friend that, as he will know, the Government fully endorsed an inquiry into Christian persecution, and we are carrying out every single recommendation that my right honourable friend the Prime Minister agreed. We will continue to work with the Bishop of ​Truro, who oversaw that particular inquiry. I share his concern that, yes, any conflict in Nigeria is exploited. Unfortunately, as I said in my original Answer, it is exploited by those divisive voices who erroneously use religion to divide people, and we will continue to condemn all acts of violence, particularly those against Christians and other communities in Nigeria and, indeed, elsewhere.

Lord Curry of Kirkharle (CB) [V]
My Lords, I also thank the noble Baroness, Lady Cox, for her commitment to this cause. The all-party group report is a stark warning. What are we are doing in the UN Security Council to prioritise these serious concerns—which now appear endemic in Nigeria—and to seek a resolution that significantly enhances the security given to communities at risk of attack? Can the Minister reassure the House that we are actively pursuing this in the United Nations?

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con)
My Lords, I assure the noble Lord that we continue to look at the issue of the freedom of religion or belief with partners in the UN. Indeed, I am currently working towards a possible resolution, or certainly a debate, during our presidency, on freedom of religion or belief—in which I am sure Nigeria will feature.

Lord Anderson of Swansea (Lab)
My Lords, it is clearly beyond the capacity, or perhaps the will, of the Government of Nigeria to end the conflict and ethnic cleansing. Have they sought any external advice or assistance from the Commonwealth or the British Government, and are we prepared to act if our advice is sought?

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con)
My Lords, we are working with the Government of Nigeria, and with NGOs and faith NGOs on the ground, such as Christian Aid and the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development, to support communities–particularly those that have been displaced–and we will continue to do so.

Baroness Northover (LD) [V]
My Lords, Amal Clooney has just resigned as envoy on media freedom because of the Government’s statement that they may not respect an international treaty that they have just agreed and signed. What challenge does this situation pose for the Minister as he makes the UK’s case for media freedom and freedom of religion and belief, including in relation to Nigeria, at UN bodies and elsewhere?

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con)
My Lords, I remain resolute in standing up against human rights abuses in whichever forum I attend, and will continue to do so on behalf of Her Majesty’s Government.

Lord Polak (Con)
The singer Yahaya Sharif-Aminu has been sentenced to death by hanging in the northern state of Kano. Will the Minister contact the Nigerian Government to ensure that due process is followed? ​Although there is a ban on FGM in Nigeria, with girls out of school due to Covid the risks to 10 to 15 million girls are extremely high. The failure to help end FGM will deepen poverty and create more insecurity. Will the Minister agree to meet the Five Foundation and Nimco Ali to discuss this and ensure that funding from the FCDO for ending FGM reaches programmes that will have a real impact on achieving this important aim?

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con)
Let me assure my noble friend that I agree with both points he has raised about this issue with regard to that case. I will follow that up and take the meeting that he has proposed.

Lord Collins of Highbury (Lab)
My Lords, will the Minister also comment on another individual case, that of Mubarak Bala, president of the Nigerian humanist association, who has been held on blasphemy charges since April? He has not had access to a lawyer or been allowed family visits since being arrested. I know that the noble Lord is aware of this case, because it was raised at ministerial level back in May or June. What steps is the noble Lord taking to ensure that Mubarak Bala is given access to his legal team? If there is to be any justice at all, this arbitrary detention for 87 days without charge must end.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con)
My Lords, I agree with the noble Lord and I am fully aware of the case. We continue to make representations and to ensure that Mr Bala gets the access mentioned by the noble Lord.

Lord Alton of Liverpool (CB)
My Lords, will the Minister comment on two urgent matters about which I have given him prior notice? The first is the targeted slaughter of Igbos and occupation of their villages in south-east and southern Nigeria by jihadist Fulanis and mercenaries. The second is the repeated interrogation of and death threats directed at Dr Obadiah Mailafia, an economist and former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, after he publicly exposed state collusion with Fulanis in ethnic and religious cleansing in southern Kaduna and the Middle Belt?

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con)
My Lords, on the noble Lord’s first point, we will continue to call for a full investigation to hold the perpetrators to account, and to implement long-term solutions, particularly, as the noble Lord mentioned, in relation to people in the south-east of the country. On Dr Obadiah Mailafia, the deputy governor of the central bank, we have already touched on media freedom, and it is vital that we stand up for the importance of individual media freedom. When freedom of expression is restricted or under threat, human rights are generally challenged. I assure the noble Lord that we will continue to engage on this case and others like it.

Baroness Cox, alongside 19 co-signatories, has written to Commonwealth Secretary-General Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC to highlight urgent concerns about escalating violence in Nigeria, where attacks led by Boko Haram, Fulani herders and other Islamist militia continue in northern and central-belt states, with reports of increasing violence in the southeast.

The letter reads

We write to highlight urgent concerns about escalating violence in Nigeria, where attacks led by Boko Haram, Fulani herders and other Islamist militia continue in northern and central-belt states, with reports of increasing violence in the southeast.

• According to a report by the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for International Freedom of Religion or Belief, entitled ‘Nigeria: Unfolding Genocide?’, thousands of civilians have been killed and elements of the Nigerian Government may be complicit in violence.
• The APPG’s concerns reflect the findings of a report by Amnesty International, ‘We dried our tears: Addressing the toll on children of Northeast Nigeria’s conflict’, which concludes that the Nigerian armed forces have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity during their operations.
• The Nigerian army’s former Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Theophilus Danjuma, whom some of us have met and spoken to, says the armed forces are “not neutral; they collude” in the “ethnic cleansing in… riverine states” by Fulani herders. He insists that villagers must defend themselves because “depending on the armed forces” will result in them dying “one by one. The ethnic cleansing must stop.”

The State’s failure to protect its citizens is a clear breach of its obligations under the Commonwealth Charter in respect of human rights. There is now an urgent need (a) to ensure adequate protection and aid for those suffering the loss of family members and the destruction of their homes and livelihoods; and (b) to end impunity by ensuring that complaints related to human rights violations are promptly, independently and impartially investigated, and those responsible are held to account after fair trials.

We write, therefore, to ask whether you are able to respond on behalf of The Commonwealth and to raise these urgent concerns with the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group. We would be very willing to meet in person (or perhaps more practically, online via zoom) to discuss how we might proceed.

The letter is signed by

• Baroness Cox
• Lord Alton of Liverpool
• Baroness Kennedy of the Shaws QC
• Jim Shannon MP
• Fiona Bruce MP
• Lord Williams of Oystermouth, Archbishop of Canterbury 2002-2012
• Lord Carey of Clifton, Archbishop of Canterbury 1991-2002
• Dr Christopher Cocksworth, Lord Bishop of Coventry
• Philip Mounstephen, Lord Bishop of Truro
• Lord Stoddart of Swindon
• Lord Anderson of Swansea
• Lord Cormack
• Sir Geoffrey Nice QC
• Ayo Adedoin, International Organisation for Peace and Social Justice
• Ewelina Ochab, Coalition for Genocide Response
• Mervyn Thomas, CSW
• Dr Khataza Gondwe, CSW
• Neville Kyrke-Smith, Aid to the Church in Need (UK)
• Dr John Eibner, Christian Solidarity International
• Ann Buwalda, Jubilee Campaign

UPDATE

The letter has prompted a media backlash in Nigeria.

Buhari Media Organisation slams UK lawmakers for acting on reports about Nigeria
No genocide, they should focus on their problems, APC tells UK MPs 

One slightly more encouraging response, in an article headed FG denies persecuting Christians was as follows: 

“The President and government of Nigeria welcome the seriousness of the letter from UK lawmakers, legal experts and campaigners. We ask our British colleagues to visit Nigeria, whether formally or informally, to discuss all the points raised in their letter.”

 

There was support from Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA):
British Parliamentary Action Against Nigerian Genocides Of Christians Is Most Appropriate-:

Rehman Chishti MP announced today “I’ve written to the PM resigning as PM’s Special Envoy on FoRB. I can’t support Internal Market Bill in its current form, which unilaterally break UK’s legal commitments. As an MP for 10 yrs & former Barrister, values of respecting rule of law & honouring one’s word are dear to me.”

This came 48 hours after Mr Chishti had tweeted

One year on from appointment as the PM's Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, I'm proud of all the work we’ve done so far promoting FoRB around the 🌍, including taking forward 17/22 recommendations of @pmounstephen Bishop of Truro's report into Christian persecution pic.twitter.com/MNKt65jgd1

— Rehman Chishti (@Rehman_Chishti) September 12, 2020

In his resignation letter he said

Asked about Mr Chishti’s resignation, the PM’s official spokesman said: “The prime minister thanks him for his service and would wish him well for the future.”

Ideologically motivated sexual grooming

In an event for the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief organised by The Coalition for Genocide Response (view the event in full) Dr Mariz Tadros, Director of CREID and Professor of Politics and Development at the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, highlighted the need to recognise how ideologically motivated sexual grooming targets women from religious minorities in order for effective action to be taken.

Dr Tadros argued that there is an urgent need to:

• Recognise officially ideologically motivated sexual grooming as a form of sexual predatory behaviour that targets many women who belong to religious minorities
• Create an accountable police force that secures the return of girls who have disappeared without delay
• Ensure that families and the girl who has disappeared are afforded a safe and neutral place to meet, while ensuring full protection from any harassment or mortal fear 

The evidence gathered suggests that across contexts and religions, there is a pattern of girls and women being targeted for sexual grooming, not only out of sexual predation, but a wider political project to hurt the religious minority and create a religiously homogenous society.

The evidence suggests that the targeting of girls and women who belong to religious minorities is to be distinguished from the sexual grooming that women and girls fall globally victim to in its intent; social norms allow for its perpetration and laws fail to prevent its occurrence.

Ideologically motivated intent of targeting: the targeting by the predator who is from the dominant religion of the young woman, not only on account of her social and economic vulnerability, but specifically because of her affiliation to a religious minority. The intent here is not only sexual predation (as is common among all forms of sexual grooming) but also the ‘conquest’ of a woman from a religious minority and ‘claiming’ her for the majority religion.

Socio-political support for the sexual predator: the role played by the legal system and society in preventing women who belong to religious minorities from escaping or being rescued from their groomers. Kidnappers are rarely arrested and justice rarely served where the subjects are from poor, socially and religiously marginalised families.

The outcomes of politically orchestrated sexual grooming are more violations of rights and the entrenchment of a vicious circle of powerlessness.

There is an Impact on the subject herself: the psychological abuse that victims of ideologically motivated sexual grooming endure often ‘breaks’ them into accepting their predicament. They often suffer dual stigma: in their marriages, they will be often be treated with contempt for not having been born into the dominant religion and if they ever have a chance to escape and go back to their families, they may be shunned or stigmatised forever.

There is an impact on freedom of mobility for women who belong to the religious minority: in response to the real or rumoured disappearance of women, many parents respond by denying women the freedom to leave the house, to attend school or to participate in leisure and/or public activities in the community. The restrictions imposed by families who fear for their girls represents a denial of the right to education, the right to freedom of association and the right to freedom of expression.

Read Dr Tadros paper in full

Listen to her podcast

CREID continues to highlight the campaign for justice for Saneha – the 16-year-old Christian girl abducted by men nearly twice her age in Pakistan. Read more on Saneha’s story here.

View an interview with Saneha’s parents

 

About CREID
The Coalition for Religious Equality and Inclusive Development (CREID) provides research evidence and delivers practical programmes which aim to redress poverty, hardship and exclusion resulting from discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief. CREID is an international consortium led by the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) and funded by UK aid from the UK Government. Key partners include Al-Khoei Foundation, Minority Rights Group (MRG) and Refcemi.
Find out more

The International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based is intended to provide a springboard towards an action plan that addresses the growing issue of violence based on religion or belief. The establishment of such a day is not the end goal in itself. It is just the beginning of a larger campaign that ultimately aims to put an end to violence based on religion or belief whenever and wherever it occurs.

GENEVA (21 August 2020) – UN human rights experts* today expressed alarm at a sharp rise during the COVID-19 pandemic of hatred directed at religious communities, who are often being portrayed as a threat to public safety and national identity.

They called on all governments to combat intolerance, discrimination and violence against individuals based on their religion or belief, and said States must do more to support victims of such violence to rebuild their lives and live free of fear of future incidents. This is their statement for the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief:

“States must recognize the importance of providing victims of acts of violence based on religion or belief, and members of their families, with appropriate support and assistance in accordance with their obligations under the international human rights law. States must establish a comprehensive and inclusive community-based preventive approach, involving a wide set of actors, including civil society and religious communities, in protecting and supporting the victims who suffer from injustice and serious lack of recourse for remedy or redress.

We are alarmed at the continuing discrimination and violence based on or in the name of religion or belief, which disproportionately affects women and girls, persons belonging to religious, ethnic and racial minorities, non-believers, or individuals with dissenting religious or political views, indigenous peoples, LGBT+ persons as well as migrants and refugees. We also recognize that persons belonging to majority communities are also subject to acts of violence based on religion or belief from non-state actors and state repression.

We have seen the sharp rise in hatred directed at different religious communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, including worrying patterns of antisemitism. Minorities and persons facing intersectional discrimination are often portrayed negatively as undermining societal cohesion or as a threat to public safety and national identity and are frequently subjected to acts of violence.

We are concerned that States may also use religion as a means of shaping and reinforcing narrow concepts of national identity or violating other human rights and undermining gender equality. Not only does this destroy the space for rational discourse, but it seeks to polarise and homogenise rather than foster respect for diversity and pluralism.

This trend is further exacerbated by the lack of respect for the right to freedom of religion or belief in many parts of the world. We recall that freedom of religion or belief guarantees every individual the right to choose a religion or belief, including the right to replace one’s current religion or belief with another or to adopt atheistic views, as well as the right to retain one’s religion or belief.

We stress that freedom of religion or belief and all other human rights, such as the right to freedom of opinion and expression and the right of peaceful assembly, are interdependent, interrelated and mutually reinforcing. States must start the fight against all forms of intolerance and of discrimination based on religion or belief by protecting individuals against incitement to discrimination and violence.

On this International Day commemorating victims of acts of violence based on religion or belief, we stand in solidarity with the victims and survivors. States must do more to support them in rebuilding their lives through redress and rehabilitation processes, which include restitution, rehabilitation, and guarantees of non-recurrence. Victims should have full access to public services while being ensured of their security.

We also stress that States must ensure that the victims’ voices (and those of their families) are heard; establish a victim-sensitive criminal justice procedure, undertake all necessary steps to ensure victims’ security and privacy where necessary; support victims’ organizations and associations, and strengthen the protection of victims’ rights, while always ensuring a gender perspective.

We call on all States to observe this International Day as established by UN General Assembly Resolution 73/296 and to jointly combat intolerance, discrimination and violence against individuals on the basis of religion or belief.”

ENDS

*The Experts: Mr. Ahmed Shaheed, Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief; Mr. Fernand de Varennes, Special Rapporteur on minority issues; Ms. Elizabeth Broderick (Chair), Ms. Melissa Upreti (Vice Chair), Ms. Alda Facio, Ms. Meskerem Geset Techane, Ms. Ivana Radačić, Working Group on discrimination against women and girls; Ms. Irene Khan, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; Ms. E. Tendayi Achiume, Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; Ms. Agnes Callamard, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and Mr. Victor Madrigal-Borloz, Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

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David Alton explains the background to the webinar Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief

The All Party Parliamentary Group for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has launched a new report entitled: ‘Suffocation of the Faithful: Persecution of Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan and the rise of International extremism’

It is the first of its kind to be written by the APPG in response to the worrying increase of persecution against Ahmadi Muslims and other religious communities in Pakistan.

A number of religious communities including Ahmadi Muslims, Hindus, Christian and Shias have long been victims of persecution in Pakistan due to its discriminatory laws. The laws have stifled freedom of religion, promoted state-sponsored persecution and acted as a catalyst for violent extremism in Pakistan.

As a result, religious communities are denied fundamental human rights to practice their faith and engage in society without fear of harassment, discrimination or violence.

The effects of such persecution are not limited to Pakistan alone, as anti-Ahmadi hate has also surfaced in the UK. The most extreme example of this was the brutal murder in Glasgow of Ahmadi shopkeeper Asad Shah in 2016, who was killed on grounds of faith.

There has also been a worrying development of hate preachers coming to the UK and the rise in hate speech on satellite television, the internet and social media that is feeding intolerance and extremism.

Read the report

View the launch event

The Human Rights and Democracy report provides an overview of activity in 2019 by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and its diplomatic network to defend human rights and promote democracy around the world. It also sets out the analysis on country situations and thematic issues which directs that work.

In the Preface, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab states “We continue to defend Freedom of Religion or Belief, accepting all the recommendations of the report by the Bishop of Truro into the FCO’s work to defend persecuted Christians, which emphasised the importance of freedom of religion or belief for all.”

“We continue to defend Freedom of Religion or Belief”

The Foreword by Minister of State for Human Rights, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad, asserts “Protecting the rights of people of all faiths or beliefs continues to be a top priority. Last year, we backed the creation of a new International Day to Commemorate Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief. In July, at the second Ministerial Conference to Advance Religious Freedom in Washington DC, I announced that the Government would implement all of the recommendations from the Bishop of Truro’s review into the persecution of Christians. We have now implemented 11 of the Bishop’s 22 recommendations under the stewardship of Rehman Chisti MP, who succeeded me as the PM’s Envoy in September 2019.”

Freedom of Religion or Belief

Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) was a priority for the UK in 2019. For most of the year, FCO policy on this issue was led by Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, who served as the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, and visited over 13 countries in this capacity and as FCO Minister of State. In September, Rehman Chishti MP was appointed as the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy, undertaking visits to Bahrain and The Holy See, as well as to the Netherlands for the seventh meeting of the Istanbul Process.

In 2019, there were terrorist attacks targeting people of faith, from the attack against the mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, to the Easter Sunday attacks in Sri Lanka, and the targeting of the Poway Synagogue in the US. The UK has worked closely with all countries concerned. We are now a leading partner on New Zealand’s Christchurch Call to Action. The then Minister of State for Security, Ben Wallace, visited Sri Lanka after the attacks there to offer UK support, and to encourage a response that would bring communities together and ensure the protection of members of minority groups.

The treatment of Uyghurs and other Muslim ethnic minority groups in Xinjiang, China, has been a priority issue. We underlined our serious concerns with China’s restrictions on religion and culture in Xinjiang, including through statements at the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) sessions in March, July and September, and at the UN General Assembly in September. We also raised our concerns about restrictions on wider FoRB in China, including on Christians, in the HRC in March. In July, the UK and 24 other countries registered their concerns about Xinjiang in a public letter to the President of the HRC and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The UK remains deeply concerned about the persecution of Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Falun Gong practitioners and other religious groups. We also continue to monitor allegations of systematic, state-sponsored organ harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners.

The UK called for the protection and fair treatment of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia, and for followers of the Baha’i faith in Iran and Yemen. We used the UN’s Universal Periodic Reviews to draw further attention to restrictions on FoRB, including in Iraq, where we remained committed to working with the Government of Iraq to address issues facing Christians, Yezidis, and other religious minorities.

In a year that saw increasing focus on the rights of India’s minority communities, we continued to discuss with the Government of India the strength that comes from diversity and inclusion. Our project work brought together over 300 young people of different religious backgrounds for interfaith workshops and social action projects in 3 cities in India in 2019.

The situation of religious persecution in Pakistan continued to be of concern. While the Supreme Court of Pakistan upheld the acquittal in January of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman who had been accused of blasphemy, Ahmadi Muslims, Christians, and other minorities continued to suffer severe levels of discrimination and intolerance, with attacks on places of worship, including mosques and churches.

In Myanmar, there were reports of the destruction of places of worship and of forced conversions. We were concerned about laws restricting the freedom to change religion, and about the placing of arbitrary restrictions on places of worship that disproportionately affected Christians and Muslims.

In Afghanistan, religious and ethnic minority groups were regularly targeted by non-governmental groups, in particular in “Islamic State in Khorasan Province”. The rights of minority groups are legally protected in the Afghan constitution, but members of minorities continued to face widespread discrimination and insecurity in Afghan society.

The UK government increased its engagement with faith-based communities in Nigeria, where we have urged the Nigerian government at the highest level to foster social cohesion and peacebuilding.

Following joint UK, US, and Canadian efforts in Sudan, the Government of Sudan in January dropped restrictions on Christian school opening hours. On 20 November, the Sudanese Prime Minister’s Office issued a decree to allow public institutions in Sudan to accommodate the religious rites and ceremonies of non-Muslims.

Working with like-minded partners remained a priority for the UK. In May, the then Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, welcomed US Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo, to the UK. During the visit, the Archbishop of Canterbury hosted a meeting with UK-based faith leaders to discuss the challenges to FoRB internationally. In July, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon represented the UK at the second Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom in Washington DC. Mr Chishti represented the UK at the seventh meeting of the Istanbul Process in The Hague on combatting religiously-motivated intolerance in November, where he stressed the importance of defending the right to FoRB globally.

The UK joined 87 states to co-sponsor a UN General Assembly resolution to create a new International Day to Commemorate Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief. To mark the first International Day on 22 August, we co-sponsored a UN Arria Formula meeting in New York, where Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon delivered a statement from the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson. He said:

Freedom of Religion or Belief is at the heart of what the UK stands for. We are determined to use the tools of British diplomacy in this cause, including our permanent seat on the UN Security Council.

DFID’s £12 million Freedom of Religion or Belief programme, the ‘Coalition for Religious Inequality and Development’ (CREID), is working with local partners to address stigma, social exclusion, and economic exclusion. CREID projects were launched, to counter hate speech, to promote representation of religiously marginalised women in local governance, and to create economic opportunities that foster social cohesion.

In December 2018, the then Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, commissioned the Bishop of Truro to conduct an independent Review of the FCO’s work to combat the persecution of Christians around the world. The aim of the review was to explore whether the FCO’s response to the persecution of Christians matched the scale of the problem.

The Bishop of Truro published his final report in July, which included 22 recommendations. The government accepted the recommendations – the majority of which related to the principle of supporting FoRB for all, not just Christians – and committed to implementing them. For example, we created a new John Bunyan Fund to support FoRB projects; led cross-Whitehall efforts to mark Red Wednesday (a day dedicated to drawing attention to persecuted Christians around the world); lobbied other countries to appoint FoRB special envoys; and wrote to the British Council, Wilton Park, and Westminster Foundation for Democracy to encourage them to expand their work on FoRB. Mr Chishti leads the implementation of the recommendations from this review.

The section Case studies of programme work supporting human rights and democracy includes this example:

The UK’s Mission to the UN in New York partnered with NGO Article 19 to enhance multilateral understanding of and support to UN standards on Freedom of Religion or Belief, including by engaging national stakeholders in the implementation of those standards. The project supported the participation of civil society representatives from Bangladesh, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Tunisia in the 7th Istanbul Process meeting in the Hague, held on 18 to 19 November. This furthered UK objectives by ensuring that a diversity of perspectives were represented at the meeting, which focused on combatting intolerance on the basis of religion or belief.

Human rights and the multilateral system

The UK again worked successfully to help secure consensus on the 2 religion-related resolutions at the HRC and the UNGA Third Committee: on Freedom of Religion or Belief (led by the EU), and on Combating Intolerance (led by the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation).

The report concludes with human rights priority countries.

The following country sections include specific references to Freedom of Religion or Belief:

Afghanistan, Bahrain, China, North Korea, Egypt, Eritrea, Iran, Libya, Maldives, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Yemen.

There was no reference to FoRB issues in the following country sections:

Bangladesh, Burundi, Central African Republic, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, The State of Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Myanmar, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, Zimbabwe.

Read the full report

 

The UK All Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief welcomes the UK Government’s introduction of a global human rights sanctions regime. According to the Foreign Secretary, who announced the plans on July 7 2020, this regime “will enable [the UK Government] to impose travel bans and asset freezes against those involved in serious human rights violations”.

The APPG has been calling for the introduction of such a system for several years and is delighted that the Government has decided to challenge violators of human rights around the world. The APPG particularly welcomes the Government’s decision to apply sanctions against Burmese military leaders who are responsible for what has been described by the UN as the “textbook ethnic cleansing” of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.” The APPG hopes that these sanctions will send a strong and clear message that those responsible for egregious violations of human rights will no longer be able to act with impunity.

However, while the APPG welcomes the new sanctions regime, we are concerned that no Chinese Communist Party officials have been included on the list of those who will be targeted by sanctions. The Government in Beijing’s new so-called national security law in Hong Kong is but the latest example of its increasing disdain for the human rights of its own citizens.

In Xinjiang, in Western China, upwards of a million Uighur Muslims are in concentration camps – 75 years on from the closure of the last concentration camps for Jewish people in Europe. These prisoners have faced all manner of harsh treatment and recent reports indicate that Uighur women have even been subject to forced sterilisation. In addition, an independent tribunal in London recently concluded that forced organ harvesting of religious prisoners of conscience has undoubtedly taken place with the knowledge and support of the Chinese Communist Party. If the perpetrators of these most heinous crimes receive no sanction, then this severely undermines the legitimacy of any system of human rights protection.

Therefore, the APPG urges the UK Government to join the US in applying targeted sanctions against members of the Chinese Government for these grave and deeply concerning human rights violations.

An online event was held to mark the first anniversary of the publication of the Bishop of Truro’s Independent Review for the Foreign Secretary of FCO Support for Persecuted Christians.

The full report

The event was hosted by Lord Alton, and there were contributions made by Baroness Nicholson, Jim Shannon MP, Jeremy Hunt MP, Archbishop Angaelos, the Bishop of Truro and Rehman Chishti MP, who is the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief.

It was also announced that in September a newly-formed UK FoRB Forum would be established.

The review,made 22 recommendations intended to improve the lives of persecuted members of all faiths, beliefs, and those of no belief. The Foreign Office states that Implementation has already begun on half the recommendations, while work is ongoing to deliver the rest

Rehman Chishti leads on the implementation of the Truro review and championing freedom of religion or belief for the Government internationally. In his speech he briefly outlined the progress that had been made.

Lord Alton’s opening remarks

Lord Alton’s closing remarks (not shown at the event)

UK Government Action on Persecuted Christians – Positive Progress, But a Mountain to Climb

“Religious persecution is alive and well… and foul.” So said Baroness Nicholson at a special event this week to mark the first anniversary of the publication of the Bishop of Truro’s Independent Review of Foreign Office Support for Persecuted Christians.

The speeches were a reminder of just how far we have come – globally and nationally – in the pursuit of positive action on international Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB). They were also a sober reminder of how much needs to be done: there is a mountain to climb.

Internationally, 27 countries (including the UK) joined together in the International Religious Freedom Alliance in February this year. This aims “to bring together senior government representatives to discuss actions their nations can take together to promote respect for freedom of religion or belief and protect members of religious minority groups worldwide.”

The US and the UK now have individuals dedicated to this same task, championing international FoRB issues within their own governments and on the international stage. And this week the EU finally renewed the mandate for its own Special Envoy for the promotion of FoRB outside the EU.

There is more commitment and more resources in terms of people and finance being dedicated to this issue than ever before. This is enormously encouraging.

Rehman Chishti MP is the individual charged by the Prime Minister to take forward the recommendations of the Bishop’s report – which have repeatedly been accepted by the UK government. In his speech at the anniversary event he rejoiced to be able to announce that progress had already been made on 11 of the 22 recommendations: many of them are scarcely earth-shatteringly significant, but nevertheless they are important steps forward.

It was also great to hear him salute the 110 Parliamentarians who attended the launch of the Open Doors World Watch List research into the 50 most dangerous countries to be a Christian which took place in January this year. Open Doors is delighted to have played a part in raising the profile of persecuted Christians within Westminster, of encouraging supporters to engage positively with their MPs and raise their voice on behalf of those with no voice – and not least, to have contributed to the Bishop of Truro’s report.

This effort – along with others – has not been in vain. It is good to see the commitment of so many in Parliament to ensure it bears fruit for our persecuted church family.

But we remain painfully aware that the mountain that has to be climbed gets higher by the day. The Bishop underlined how the current COVID19 pandemic has created a new situation in which the forces driving persecution can flourish. The attention given by the authorities to combatting organised crime and the terrorists of religious fundamentalism is distracted as they focus on trying to contain and resist the virus. At the same time authoritarian governments take more powers to control the disease which they can – and do – use to clamp down on religious minorities. Nationalist ideologues delight in pointing the finger at Christians and other minority groups as the carriers of the disease.

So action, more action, is still needed. It is a great encouragement to hear the announcement that in September a new UK FoRB Forum will be launched, chaired by the Bishop of Truro, to bring all the relevant stakeholders together to ensure progress is made.

At the very time when many fear that the merger of the Foreign Office and the Department for International Development might reduce the focus on human rights, and FoRB in particular, there will be a new Forum where the voice of the voiceless can be heard and amplified to the UK government.

In the Afterword of his report, the Bishop of Truro wrote “The freedom to think for oneself and to choose to believe what one chooses to believe, without fear of coercion, is the most fundamental human right, and is indeed the one on which so many others depend… And yet everywhere in our world today we see this right questioned, compromised and threatened. It is a grave threat which must be resisted… And how grave does this situation have to become before we act?”

We have come a long way, but there is a mountain to climb. In our churches and in our Parliament there is still a need for greater awareness of the reality of global persecution; and that awareness has to be turned into action, action that turns the tide of hate, discrimination and violence.

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