Stephen Timms MP (East Ham) (Lab) asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to the Iranian government about the persecution of Christians, Baha’is, and other religious minorities in that country? Foreign Office Minister Tobias Ellwood MP (Bournemouth East) (Con): The UK welcomed President Rouhani’s comments in…
“Where so much suffering has occurred, and is still occurring, action is the shared responsibility of the entire international community” – UN Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. The 2014 UN Commission of Inquiry (COI) on Human Rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) reported on…
Hansard, 28 October 2014, Oral Answers to Questions, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE: Naomi Long (Belfast East) (Alliance): What recent representations he has made to the Algerian Government on ensuring that Christians and other religious minorities are protected from persecution and discrimination. [905689] The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr Tobias Ellwood): We regularly…
The Cuban government has approved the construction on a new church building, making this the first church they have allowed in 55 years. The church is expected to be built in Sandino, a town located in the far western province of Cuba. Since the 1959 revolution, the Catholic Church has had tense relations with Cuba’s…
The All Party Parliamentary Group on International Freedom of Religion or Belief And Asylum Advocacy Group is calling for evidence on ‘Claiming asylum in the UK if you are persecuted for your faith or belief’. As persecution on the grounds of religion or belief increases so does the number of people claiming asylum due to…
Questions answered on asylum, anti-Semitism and refugees in Iraq highlighted some interesting gaps in government information: it is not known how many people have claimed asylum on the grounds of religious persecution there is no central record of how often issues of persecution and freedom of religion or belief are raised with foreign governments the…
The Catholic News Agency reports that more than 200,000 people have signed a petition asking European leaders to offer “real help” for persecuted Christians and other religious minorities around the world. Luca Volonté, a board member of CitizenGo and president of the international foundation Novae Terrae, told CNA that the petition seeks to address the…
The Independent reports that his body was left on display on a cross. Pictures being shared online show a banner attached to the teenager’s chest saying the boy has been crucified for taking photos of Isis military bases, as well as receiving “500 Turkish lira” for any footage taken. The message describes the ruling for the…
Under the headline A new booklet on apostasy in Islam has rattled extremist Somali clerics Guuleyste Ali writes in Kenya’s Daily Nation that “It’s not often that we hear of a battle of ideas between reformist the Muslim scholars and fundamentalist clerics of Somalia, who are fighting tooth and nail to silence the voice of moderation…
In a press release last week the independent NGO described the emergence and deterioration in a litany of grave human rights concerns across the country and stated that the prevailing political situation, and rise in religious extremism were proving significant hurdles in mounting any serious efforts to deal with these concerns. It continued “There has been…