On 31st October 2024, the Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government whether they recognise the treatment of Uyghur Muslims by the government of China as genocide.
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The Bishop of Winchester received the following written answers on 7th October 2024:
The Lord Bishop of Winchester asked His Majesty’s Government whether they intend to work within international forums to establish a commission of inquiry to investigate and hold accountable those responsible for human rights violations against the Banyamulenge in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Continue reading “Bishop of Winchester asks about protection of vulnerable communities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in Iraq”The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answers on 7th October 2024:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the risk of renewed violence in South Sudan during that country’s upcoming election.
Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about issues facing African countries, and refugees in Myanmar”During a discussion on the conflict in Israel and Gaza on 3rd September 2024, the Bishop of Gloucester asked a question on growing settler violence in the West Bank and Occupied Palestinian Territories, and the recent attack on and dispossession of a Palestinian Christian family
The Lord Bishop of Gloucester: My Lords, I am grateful to the Foreign Secretary for holding together the trauma of the Israeli hostages and their families and communities, and that of the families and communities of Gaza.
I am very concerned that, as has been said by the noble Lord, Lord Purvis, we do not lose sight of the Palestinians in the Occupied Territories of the West Bank. I had the painful privilege of visiting there very recently and I was deeply perturbed, not least by the growing settler activity and, as has been said, the illegal settler outposts, including the abhorrent attack and subsequent dispossession of the Kissieh family of Palestinian Christians near Bethlehem. Will the Government take action on this as well as on the issue of arms licences?
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The Bishop of Gloucester received the following written answer on 2nd September 2024:
The Lord Bishop of Gloucester asked His Majesty’s Government what steps they plan to take in response to the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice issued on 19 July regarding (1) Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian territories, and (2) its discriminatory laws and policies against Palestinians.
Continue reading “Bishop of Gloucester asks about ICC judgement regarding Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories”The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 2nd September 2024:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the reported discovery of Emirati passports, allegedly linked to soldiers of the Rapid Support Forces, in battlefields in Sudan.
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The Bishop of Southwark received the following written answer on 2nd September 2024:
The Lord Bishop of Southwark asked His Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the government of Azerbaijan regarding the release of prisoners of war and civilians detained by Azerbaijan when taking control of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Continue reading “Bishop of Southwark asks about UK communications with Azerbaijan regarding release of Armenian prisoners of war”The Bishop of Winchester gave a speech on the topic of freedom of religion and belief during the King’s Speech debate on 25th July 2024, encouraging the government to take “a faith literate approach to foreign affairs”:
The Lord Bishop of Winchester: My Lords, I am grateful for the noble Baroness’s remarks at the start and am pleased that the Government have expressed a desire to reset the UK’s international relations. If the UK is to exercise the soft power that we undoubtedly might, not least through proper investment in the BBC World Service, it is vital that we are as fully engaged internationally as we can be. In that regard, I stress the vital importance of freedom of religion or belief—or FoRB for short, because it is a mouthful—in today’s world. It is a vital human right, and its increasing abuse is a growing global threat.
Continue reading “King’s Speech Debate: Bishop of Winchester urges “faith literate” approach to foreign affairs”During the King’s Speech Debate on 25th July 2024, the Archbishop of Canterbury gave a speech on foreign affairs and international relations, emphasising the importance of engaging with faith groups:
The Lord Archbishop of Canterbury: My Lords, I join noble Lords in congratulating the noble Lord, Lord Coaker, and the noble Baroness, Lady Anderson, on their appointments and on their party’s first King’s Speech. As a successor to the noble Lord, Lord Ahmad, the noble Baroness has a very hard act to follow indeed, as I am sure the whole House will recognise. I also congratulate the noble Baroness, Lady Goldie, on her remarkable meal, which, as I missed breakfast, may result in me leaving quickly to have lunch—but it will not be as good.
As others have indicated, we are living in unstable times. The Anglican Communion, in 165 countries, finds almost half our members facing conflict. Issues elsewhere in the world, however, do not confine themselves to affecting us in our international policy alone. We are recognised now by the United Nations as the most diverse nation on earth. That means that every single overseas conflict or disaster has a diaspora community here. To build a cohesive society here, domestic and foreign policy must work hand in glove.
Continue reading “King’s Speech Debates: Archbishop of Canterbury stresses importance of engaging with faith groups in international affairs”The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 23rd May 2024:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the Human Rights Watch report “The Boot on my Neck”: Iranian Authorities’ Crime of Persecution Against Baha’is in Iran, published on 1 April.
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