The Bishop of Guildford asked a question on engagement with the government of India on freedom of religion and belief and treatment of religious minorities on 2nd July 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Guildford: My Lords, what assessment have the Government made of Indian laws on freedom of religion or belief, and how to engage with the Indian Government on the misuse of those laws to target religious minorities, especially Christians and Muslims?
The Bishop of Newcastle spoke in a debate on treatment of religious minorities in South Asia on 28th October 2024, highlighting the treatment of these minorities in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and the global responsibility to safeguard freedom of religion and belief:
The Lord Bishop of Newcastle: My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Ahmad, for securing this important debate. I also commend the work of my right reverend friend the Bishop of Winchester, who works tirelessly on the issue of freedom of religion or belief. He expresses his regret that he could not be here to contribute to today’s debate. It is an honour to follow the noble and right reverend Lord, Lord Harries, who ordained me as a deacon in Oxford nearly 20 years ago.
As outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, freedom of religion or belief is a foundational right. A denial of FORB is often a warning sign for challenges and human rights troubles to come. The UK must therefore continue to reaffirm its commitment to FORB, particularly concerning regions where increasing threats to this foundational right are present. South Asia is home to a rich mosaic of religions. However, the religious diversity in this region is being undermined, and I draw your Lordships’ attention to just two countries by way of illustration.
The Bishop of Lichfield received the following written answer on 23rd May 2024:
The Lord Bishop of Lichfield asked His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that more people from minority faith groups are recruited and retained by the UK armed forces.
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.
The Bishop of Leicester spoke in a debate on the use of UK aid to support minorities in Pakistan on 25th April 2024, highlighting the cases of Christians facing persecution in the country and the possibility of establishing a route for small numbers of Pakistani Christians to seek asylum in the UK:
The Lord Bishop of Leicester: My Lords, I, too, am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Alton, for securing this debate, and I commend his tireless campaigning over the years for the UK to defend and support the rights of minorities in Pakistan. I will focus on two specific issues raised with me by members of the large Pakistani heritage community in Leicester: first, the plight of Christians forced to work as gutter cleaners with no personal protective equipment; and, secondly, the need for a small, safe and legal route for persecuted minorities to come to the UK.
The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 19th February 2024:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government whether any UK aid to Pakistan is directed specifically towards supporting persecuted religious minorities; and if so, how much.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con, Foreign Office): We prioritise our aid to achieve maximum impact for the people of Pakistan in line with our strategic priorities, including promoting the rights of religious minorities. Examples include our Aawaz II programme, which is allocated £39.5 million (2018-2024) and brings together community leaders and minority representatives to promote tolerance; and our Hate Speech and Disinformation programme, which works to protect marginalised communities from hate speech online.
The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 14th February 2024:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the governments of (1) India, and (2) Pakistan, to ensure that religious minorities are not denied their right to vote in upcoming elections in those countries.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con, Foreign Office): We regularly engage with the Government of Pakistan to advance our key priorities and interests, including upholding democracy through inclusive elections.
The Bishop of St Albans asked a question on international efforts to hold China to account for persecution of religious minorities on 19th December 2023:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, I too congratulate the Foreign Secretary on a much more robust approach. This is not happening only in Hong Kong; it is part of a much wider movement right across China, where not only human rights but religious rights are being denied. Churches are being knocked down, pastors are being arrested and, most notoriously of all, there is, many people would argue, a genocide of the Uighur people. What are we doing with our colleagues internationally to press China on these rights in a consistent, long-term way that is backed up by sanctions?
The Bishop of Coventry received the following written answers on 21st June 2023:
The Lord Bishop of Coventry asked His Majesty’s Government:
what discussions they have had with the government of India on the importance of pluralism and human rights, including freedom of religion; and what assessment they have made of freedom of religion or belief in India.
what discussions they have had with leaders from civil society in India on the status and experiences of religious minorities in that country.
The Bishop of Leeds received the following written answers on 20th February 2023:
The Lord Bishop of Leeds asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the prevalence of forced marriages and conversions of women and girls from religious minorities in Pakistan; and what representations they have made to the government of Pakistan regarding this practice.
The Church of England in Parliament 
You must be logged in to post a comment.