On 7th February 2023, the House of Lords debated amendments to the Public Order Bill (2022) in the second day of the report stage. Votes were held on amendments to the bill, in which Bishops took part:
Votes: Public Order Bill
Tag: freedom of the press
Bishop of St Albans asks about arrest of journalists in South Sudan
The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 24th January 2023:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of South Sudan regarding the reported arrest of six journalists in that country.
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Con): The UK Charge d’Affaires in Juba met with the Chair of the Union of Journalists for South Sudan and has publicly called for due process to be followed in the case of six members of South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation staff being detained. We consistently raise the importance of freedom of expression and of the media, and the need to adhere to fair legal processes, with the Government of South Sudan.
Bishop of St Albans asks about access to the BBC in China
The Bishop of St Albans asked a question on what advice had been given on how to access the BBC World News Channel following its ban in China, during a debate on protection of media freedom on 8th December 2022:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, following China’s banning of the BBC World News channel, what advice has been given, as has been given in countries such as Russia, on the use of VPNs and ways around the ban? The importance of broadcasting accurate reporting into China is increasing as we face so many crackdowns on minority groups.
Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about access to the BBC in China”Bishop of St Albans asks about suppression of journalists in China
The Bishop of St Albans asked a question regarding government response to suppression of journalists by the Chinese authorities on 1st December 2022, during a debate on a Commons Urgent Question concerning the arrest of BBC journalist Edward Lawrence while he was covering protests in Shanghai, China:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, what attempts are His Majesty’s Government making to work with our partners in the UN to build an international consensus, so that China, which is seeking to raise its profile as an international power, hears from all quarters that suppressing journalists, not least those who are doing their duties, and arresting people for these demonstrations is simply unacceptable in the modern world?
Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about suppression of journalists in China”Bishop of Durham asks whether the government will condemn threats against British-Iranian journalists by Iran
The Bishop of Durham asked a question on threats made against journalists at Iran International during a debate on protesters in Iran on 9th November 2022:
The Lord Bishop of Durham: To follow up on that, it was reported earlier this week that the lives of two British-Iranian journalists were at risk due to lethal threats from Iran following their coverage of the protests for the news channel Iran International. Will the Government take steps to condemn these threats and encourage the freedom of the press in Iran?
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con): My Lords, we will and I do so now.
The Church of England in Parliament 
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