Bishop of Coventry asks Government about repatriation of British children of Daesh supporters

Coventry171123 bOn 15th July 2019 the Bishop of Coventry, Rt Revd Christopher Cocksworth, received a written answer from the Government, to a question about the repatriation of children of British citizens who left the country to join ISIL:

The Lord Bishop of Coventry: HL16788 To ask Her Majesty’s Government, following the recent statement by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on 24 June, what plans they have to repatriate the children of British citizens now held in Iraq and Syria as a result of their parents’ involvement with Daesh. Continue reading “Bishop of Coventry asks Government about repatriation of British children of Daesh supporters”

Bishop of Coventry: Britain has moral responsibility for long-term reconstruction, if involved in conflict

On 23rd November 2017 the House of Lords debated a motion from Lord Soley, “That this House takes note of the case for maintaining United Kingdom defence forces at a sufficient level to contribute to global peace, stability and security.” The Bishop of Coventry, Rt Revd Christopher Cocksworth, spoke in the debate:

The Lord Bishop of Coventry: My Lords, I join others in commending the noble Lord, Lord Soley, for securing this debate and for framing it in this way. He made it clear that UK defence forces exist not only for the protection and promotion of immediate British interests but to contribute to global peace, stability and security. The scale of that task has obvious implications for the size of the defence budget and its distribution. Continue reading “Bishop of Coventry: Britain has moral responsibility for long-term reconstruction, if involved in conflict”

Bishop of Salisbury asks Government about help for returning displaced Christians in Iraq

On 24th October 2017, the Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, repeated a Government statement on the liberation of Raqqa. The Bishop of Salisbury, Rt Revd Nicholas Holtam, asked a follow up question:

The Lord Bishop of Salisbury: My Lords, I thank the Minister for his statement and point out that the Christian presence in Iraq is integral to that country’s cultural identity. A reconstruction committee composed of Chaldean, Syriac and Syriac Orthodox churches has restored over 1,700 properties, but that will restore fewer than a quarter of internationally displaced people. What can the Government do to help those displaced Christians to return safely to that space, like Jonah returning to Nineveh, a place where they belong and are called? How can the Government support them in that process where there is a real threat in terms of faith? Continue reading “Bishop of Salisbury asks Government about help for returning displaced Christians in Iraq”

Bishop of Coventry asks about civilian deaths and cost of military action in Iraq

On 11th and 12th October 2017 Rt Revd Christopher Cocksworth, Bishop of Coventry, received written answers from the Government to questions about civilian casualties and the financial cost of armed conflict in Iraq:

The Lord Bishop of Coventry:
 (i) To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the cost of the UK’s participation in the US led coalition air strikes in support of the liberation of Mosul.
(ii) To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they intend to take to evaluate the deployment of airpower in heavily populated areas following the liberation of Mosul.
(iii) To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to investigate unintended civilian casualties arising from UK participation in the US led coalition airstrikes to liberate Mosul; and if so, what resources they (1) have committed, and (2) intend to commit, to that investigation.
(iv) To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their estimate of the number of civilians killed during the liberation of Mosul.

Continue reading “Bishop of Coventry asks about civilian deaths and cost of military action in Iraq”

Bishop of Southwark asks Government about Iraqi refugees fleeing Daesh

BishSouthwarktaxcreditsOn the 17th and 18th July 2017, the Bishop of Southwark, Rt Revd Christopher Chessun, received written answers to questions about Iraqi refugees fleeing Daesh and who are eligible for ressetlement under the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme.

Bishop of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, what estimate they have made of the number of Iraqis that have fled Daesh in Iraq who are now refugees in countries bordering Syria. [HL704]

Continue reading “Bishop of Southwark asks Government about Iraqi refugees fleeing Daesh”

Bishop of Coventry asks Government about help for minority people in Iraq to return to their homes

On 9th March 2017 the Bishop of Coventry asked a question in the House of Lords that he had tabled, on help for displaced minority communities in Iraq. His question and follow-up, with those of other Members is reproduced below.

The Lord Bishop of Coventry: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to help displaced minority communities in Iraq to return to their homes in areas liberated from Daesh.

The Minister of State, Department for International Development (Lord Bates) (Con): My Lords, UK aid is supporting vulnerable people, including minorities, to return to their homes in areas liberated from Daesh in Iraq. With UK funding, the UN is helping people to return home by restoring light infrastructure, re-opening hospitals and schools, and providing cash assistance to people who need to re-establish their livelihoods.

The Lord Bishop of Coventry: I thank the Minister for his reply and pay tribute to the Government’s work thus far. The Minister may like to know that I was in Iraq in January and was gladdened by personal assurances from the President, the Prime Minister and the Iraqi authorities about their desire to rebuild the diverse fabric of the society. Continue reading “Bishop of Coventry asks Government about help for minority people in Iraq to return to their homes”

Bishop of Coventry receives answers to questions about the situation in Iraq

13.10 Bishop of CoventryOn the 20th February 2017, the Bishop of Coventry, the Rt Revd Christopher Cocksworth, received written answers to questions about the situation in Iraq.


Bishop of Coventry: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what political and financial assistance they are providing to strengthen and develop the structures and mechanisms for interreligious dialogue and co-operation in Iraq. Continue reading “Bishop of Coventry receives answers to questions about the situation in Iraq”

Bishop of Leeds asks Government about support for victims of Daesh and recording of atrocities

LeedsOn 26th April 2016 the Bishop of Leeds, Rt Revd Nick Baines, received answers to two written questions about support to victims of Daesh and the Kurdistan Regional Government’s committee on genocide and committee on mass graves:

The Lord Bishop of Leeds: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 5 April (HL7332), what financial assistance they have given to human rights defenders in Iraq to improve victim support and case documentation of sexual violence committed by Daesh. [HL7706] Continue reading “Bishop of Leeds asks Government about support for victims of Daesh and recording of atrocities”

Bishop of Coventry asks Government about Daesh, Iraq and international humanitarian law

Bp Coventry May 2015On 22nd April 2016 the Bishop of Coventry, Rt Revd Christopher Cocksworth, received answers to three written questions of Government on the actions of Daesh and the Iraqi Government and international humanitarian law:

The Lord Bishop of Coventry: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what conversations they have had with other members of the UN Security Council about referring the actions of Daesh against religious and ethnic minorities in Iraq to the International Criminal Court for further investigation. [HL7548] Continue reading “Bishop of Coventry asks Government about Daesh, Iraq and international humanitarian law”

Bishop of Southwark asks Government about support for removal of mines in areas liberated from Daesh control

Bp Southwark May 2015On 21st April 2016 Baroness Mobarik asked Her Majesty’s Government “how many Iraqi troops British forces are expected to help train this year to fight Daesh.” The Bishop of Southwark, Rt Revd Christopher Chessun, asked a follow up question:

The Lord Bishop of Southwark: My Lords, having recently returned from a visit to Iraqi Kurdistan under the auspices of Christian Aid, I ask whether due consideration has been given to the fight against Daesh to the extent that it must involve support for the removal of mines and explosive devices. Many millions are still in situ in the places that are being liberated. Continue reading “Bishop of Southwark asks Government about support for removal of mines in areas liberated from Daesh control”

%d bloggers like this: