Fiona Bruce, Conservative MP for Congleton and Vice-Chair of the All-Party Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief, has been appointed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson MP as his Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief. Speaking on her appointment Fiona Bruce said “I am honoured to be given this opportunity to serve…
The Freedom of Thought Report is a unique worldwide survey of discrimination and persecution against humanists, atheists and the non-religious published by Humanists International. The Report examines every country in the world for its record on upholding the rights and equality for non-religious people, taking into account issues of legal discrimination and outright persecution and…
Parliamentary Inquiry into Abduction, Forced Conversions and Forced Marriages of Religious Minority Girls and Women in Pakistan Conducted by Rt Hon Jim Shannon MP, Rt Hon Marie Rimmer MP and Lord Alton Terms of Reference Background 1. According to unverified reports, about 1,000 girls and women from religious minorities, mainly Christian and Hindus, are abducted,…
Fiona Bruce (Congleton) (Con) I beg to move, that this House has considered the effect of the covid-19 pandemic on freedom of religion or belief. Yesterday, 25 November, the world marked Red Wednesday, whose purpose is to draw attention to the plight of those who are persecuted for their religion and beliefs, and the International…
On November 25th, the world will mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls and Red Wednesday, a day which aims to draw attention to the plight of those who are persecuted for their religion and beliefs. On this important day, the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of…
A new report from Jubilee Campaign USA in collaboration with Voice for Justice provides an overview of several common factors involved in cases of forced conversion and abduction. On October 13, 13-year-old Pakistani Christian girl Arzoo Raja was kidnapped outside of her home in Karachi. Two days later, Arzoo’s parents were told that their daughter…
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, the UK Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, today hosted the online launch of the Declaration of Humanity by Leaders of Faith and Leaders of Belief. The first of its kind, the Declaration calls for the prevention of sexual violence in conflict and denounces the stigma too…
Government restrictions on religion rose to a record high in 2018, while religion-related social hostilities fell slightly but remained near peak levels, according to Pew Research Center’s 11th annual study of restrictions on religion. Restrictions by governments include official laws and actions that curtail religious beliefs and practices, while social hostilities encompass everything from religion-related…
The APPGs Written Submission to the International Development Select Committee inquiry on ‘Humanitarian crises monitoring – coronavirus in developing countries: secondary impacts.’ SECONDARY IMPACTS OF CORONAVIRUS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES Scapegoating of religious and belief communities 1. In countries around the world, many marginalised communities have faced intensified discrimination since the outbreak of covid-19. The UN…
The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Pakistani Minorities issued a statement condemning the abduction, forced conversion and forced marriage of a 13 years old Christian girl in Pakistan. On 13 October 2020, Arzoo Raja, was abducted from a street near her home in Karachi, forced to convert to Islam and marry the abductor, a 43-year-old Muslim…