Tag: war crimes

Bishop of Manchester speaks in debate on atrocity crimes, raising issue of methods of responding to regimes and governments complicit in atrocities

The Bishop of Manchester spoke in a debate on evaluating the risk of atrocity crimes and identifying risks of genocide on 20th January 2026, raising the question of how the government might respond to such crimes and the added complication of regimes and governments that are complicit in atrocities:

The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Alton, for securing this debate and his deep and long-standing commitment to these issues, which serves as a great example to us all in this House.

In one of my unpaid personal roles I chair USPG, a global Anglican mission agency. We are celebrating our 325th birthday this year. We have been operating for a long time, and we operate across much of the globe. It is in that capacity in particular that I have become aware, through the contact we have with people in various jurisdictions, of places not only where atrocities are regularly committed against religious and ethnic minorities—sometimes Christians, but not exclusively—but where the security or the political situation is edging towards a greater risk of atrocity crimes and crimes against humanity in the future.

Continue reading “Bishop of Manchester speaks in debate on atrocity crimes, raising issue of methods of responding to regimes and governments complicit in atrocities”

Bishop of Oxford speaks in debate on report on the crimes of Daesh (ISIL)

The Bishop of Oxford spoke in a debate on a report from the Joint Committee on Human Rights on the crimes of Daesh on 10th September 2025, highlighting the ongoing issue of British citizens who were members of Daesh and the need to bring them to justice, and noting the need to care for the number of children detained with their parents who had been Daesh members:

The Lord Bishop of Oxford: My Lords, I, too, congratulate the Joint Committee on Human Rights on its detailed and courageous report, and the noble Lord, Lord Alton, on bringing this debate. With others, I am sorry that he cannot be with us today. I, too, received the graphic photographs of his serious injuries.

Continue reading “Bishop of Oxford speaks in debate on report on the crimes of Daesh (ISIL)”

Bishop of Coventry asks about prosecution of Rwandan war criminals in the UK

The Bishop of Coventry received the following written answer on 19th July 2023:

The Lord Bishop of Coventry asked His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking (1) to identify the presence of alleged Rwandan war criminals in the UK, and (2) to prosecute those who participated in the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom (Con): If a UK resident has been responsible for core international crimes anywhere in the world, they may be investigated and prosecuted in the UK.

Continue reading “Bishop of Coventry asks about prosecution of Rwandan war criminals in the UK”

Bishop of St Albans asks about investigating allegations of war crimes in Ukraine

The Bishop of St Albans asked a question regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on 4th April 2022:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to work with international partners to investigate allegations of war crimes following the massacre in Bucha, Ukraine, by Russian Armed Forces.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con): My Lords, we were all horrified, as we are now, by seeing evidence of appalling acts by Russian forces in the Ukrainian city of Bucha. Russia’s alleged indiscriminate attacks against civilians during this illegal invasion must be investigated as war crimes. We will fully support any investigations by the International Criminal Court, and we will not rest until those responsible for these atrocities have faced justice. The international community must continue to provide Ukraine with humanitarian and military support while stepping up sanctions to cut off funding for Mr Putin’s war machine.

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Bishop of Southwark asks Government about reports of genocide and war crimes in Tigray

24th May 2021

The Bishop of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the statement by Patriarch Abuna Mathias in April (1) that the government of Ethiopia and its allies are committing genocide in Tigray, and (2) that rape is being used as a weapon of war in that region.

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Bishop of St Albans asks Government about possible war crimes by Azerbaijan military

On 3rd November 2020 the Bishop of St Albans received a written answer to a question on the behaviour of the Azerbaijan military in Nagorno Karabakh:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the validity of footage showing Azerbaijan Military personnel executing two Armenian prisoners of war; and whether this constitutes a violation of the Geneva Convention. [HL9582] Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government about possible war crimes by Azerbaijan military”

Bishop of St Albans asks about war crimes allegations against Syrian Army

On 26th October 2020 the Bishop of St Albans received a written answer to a question on alleged war crimes by the Syrian National Army.

Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 6 October (HL8334), what plans they have to disclose the government of Turkey’s response to the representations made by UK officials over allegations that the Syrian National Army may have committed war crimes against Kurdish civilians in Afrin and the surrounding area. [HL8990] Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about war crimes allegations against Syrian Army”

Bishop of St Albans asks about alleged Syrian war crimes

On 6th October 2020 the Bishop of St Albans received a written answer to a question on allegations that the Syrian National Army may have committed war crimes against Kurdish civilians:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the report by the UN Human Rights Council’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic 21st report of the Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, published on 15 September, what representations they have made to the government of Turkey about the allegations that the Syrian National Army may have committed war crimes against Kurdish civilians in Afrin and the surrounding area. [HL8334] Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about alleged Syrian war crimes”

Bishop of Leeds asks Government about Daesh atrocities, Iraq and Kurdistan

LeedsOn 5th April 2016 the Bishop of Leeds, Rt Revd Nick Baines, received written answers to five questions to Government on Daesh atrocities, Iraq and Kurdistan:

The Lord Bishop of Leeds: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of reports of the use of chemical weapons by Daesh in Iraq.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: There are credible reports that Daesh has used chemical weapons in Iraq. The Government of Iraq, with support from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), investigated allegations of chemical weapons use in Iraq last year and has concluded that sulphur mustard was used against Peshmerga fighters on 11 August 2015. Continue reading “Bishop of Leeds asks Government about Daesh atrocities, Iraq and Kurdistan”

Archbishop of Canterbury Raises Concern About Conflict in Central African Republic, South Sudan

Updated: The Archbishop of Canterbury asked three written questions of Government, on conflict in the Central African Republic and on sexual violence and war crimes in South Sudan. They were responded to on 10th and 11th March 2014 by the Foreign Office Senior Minister of State, Baroness Warsi.  The questions and their replies are below.

Central African Republic

(via Parliament.uk)

ImageThe Archbishop of Canterbury: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to support the stabilisation of the conflict in the Central African Republic, particularly in ensuring that sectarian violence does not develop into inter-religious conflict.

 The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): We are greatly concerned by the situation on the ground in the Central African Republic (CAR). The UK provided £15 million to the humanitarian appeal and a further £2million to the African Union to cover some of the African-led International Support Mission to CAR (MISCA)’s operation. Continue reading “Archbishop of Canterbury Raises Concern About Conflict in Central African Republic, South Sudan”