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732731

	registered interest
	date	26/06/2017
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the Republic of Iran concerning the continuing persecution of religious and ethnic minorities, as described in the Annual report of the UN Secretary-General to the Human Rights Council submitted on 13 March, Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran A/HRC/34/40.
	tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of St Albans
	uin	HL169
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/07/2017 answer text <p>We are concerned about the human rights situation in Iran, in particular the treatment of religious and ethnic minorities. The UK continues to lead international efforts to encourage Iran to improve its human rights record. We raise individual cases with the Iranian government, in addition to the use of the death penalty, juvenile executions, and continued persecution of religious and ethnic minorities.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 06/07/2017 12:57:03 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	4308 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of St Albans

746091

	registered interest
	date	28/06/2017
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the adjournment of Asia Bibi's appeal, what representations, if any, they have made on her behalf to the government of Pakistan regarding reports that (1) there is a lack of information about when her appeal will be heard, and (2) that she is still being kept in solitary confinement.
	tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of St Albans
	uin	HL233
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/07/2017 answer text <p>We remain concerned about Ms Bibi, following the postponement of her Supreme Court appeal hearing in October 2016. The British High Commission in Islamabad continues to monitor developments in her case closely. Moreover, we also regularly raise the need to uphold the protection plus rights of religious minorities and misuse of the blasphemy laws with the Pakistani Government, and continue to urge Pakistan to adhere to its international obligations and uphold the rule of law.</p><p>The Foreign Secretary raised religious tolerance and misuse of the blasphemy laws during his visit to Pakistan in November 2016. The then Minister for Asia and the Pacific (Mr Sharma) discussed Pakistan's blasphemy laws with Kamran Michael, Pakistani Minister for Human Rights, and Barrister Zafarullah Khan, the Prime Minister's Special Assistant for Human Rights, during his visit to Pakistan in January 2017.</p><p>The UK supported the EU statement, following the decision of the Lahore High Court, to uphold Ms Bibi's conviction. We continue to work with our international partners to ensure our views are made clear to the Pakistani authorities.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 12/07/2017 15:14:43 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	4308 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of St Albans

732098

	registered interest
	date	22/06/2017
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to encourage political reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah.
	tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Southwark
	uin	HL151
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/07/2017 answer text <p>​We support the Palestinian people in realising self-determination through an independent, sovereign, and unified Palestinian state based on the 1967 border with land swaps as appropriate. We have made it clear that we will engage with any Palestinian government that shows through their words and actions that they are committed to the rejection of violence and pursuit of a negotiated peace.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 06/07/2017 12:59:05 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	4345 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Southwark

746093

	registered interest
	date	28/06/2017
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of freedom of religion and belief in Turkey.
	tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Southwark
	uin	HL235
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/07/2017 answer text <p>We will continue to encourage Turkey to work towards the full protection of fundamental rights of all its citizens, including in the areas of freedom of religion, freedom of expression and minority rights. Freedom of religion continues to be a priority area for our bilateral projects in Turkey.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 11/07/2017 14:29:22 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	4345 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Southwark

746094

	registered interest
	date	28/06/2017
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of recent reports that the Turkish Governor of Mardin has confiscated some 60 properties, including churches, monasteries and cemeteries.
	tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Southwark
	uin	HL236
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/07/2017 answer text <p>​Our understanding of the situation is that legal changes to local government structures in Mardin, where many important Assyrian religious sites are found, resulted in 2012 in the transfer of the title deeds to some religious sites from local bodies to central government, and eventually to the Government's Directorate for Religious Affairs. Assyrian organisations are making legal appeals against these decisions. The British Embassy in Ankara will be closely following this process. We strongly support religious freedom in Turkey and have supported civil society organisations working in this area.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 11/07/2017 14:29:01 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	4345 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Southwark

747373

	registered interest
	date	03/07/2017
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Indonesia that Indonesia's blasphemy laws will not be applied in a discriminatory manner, including against those who do not practise one of the six religions recognised under Indonesian law.
	tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Coventry
	uin	HL337
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/07/2017 answer text <p>We raise these issues regularly and appropriately with the Indonesian government. We supported the EU statement, issued following the conviction of the former governor of Jakarta, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (known as 'Ahok') on blasphemy charges. This called on the Indonesian government, its institutions and its people to continue the long standing tradition of tolerance and pluralism in Indonesia and stated that laws criminalising blasphemy when applied in a discriminatory manner can have a serious inhibiting effect on freedom of expression and freedom of religion. Our Ambassador to Indonesia also publicly expressed concern about the blasphemy verdict against 'Ahok' on social media. More generally, and in meetings with political and religious leaders, the Ambassador and Embassy officials have actively cautioned against mixing issues of race, ethnicity and religion with politics.</p><p>In addition, we are also supporting the Indonesian parliament in their ongoing revision of the Indonesian Penal Code to encourage respect for human rights, including freedom of religion.</p> answering member printed Baroness Goldie question first answered 17/07/2017 16:52:25 answering member 4306 label Biography information for Baroness Goldie
	tabling member	4266 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Coventry

747374

	registered interest
	date	03/07/2017
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to assist the government of Indonesia in strengthening Indonesia's resilience to violent extremism.
	tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Coventry
	uin	HL338
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/07/2017 answer text <p>The British Government has provided resilience assistance to the Indonesian government since the appalling terrorist attacks in Bali in 2002. Since then, the UK has supported Indonesian efforts to improve its capabilities in disrupting terrorist activity in Indonesia, particularly through the work of the Jakarta Centre for Law Enforcement Cooperation (JCLEC) which provides training to law enforcement officials and enables sharing of UK expertise. We remain concerned by current trends in violent extremism in Indonesia, including terrorist attacks such as in central Jakarta in January 2016. We are supporting work to increase community resilience to extremism as well as continuing efforts with the Indonesian authorities to counter violent extremism. This includes support for legal reform as well as the promotion of human rights.</p> answering member printed Baroness Goldie question first answered 17/07/2017 16:56:39 answering member 4306 label Biography information for Baroness Goldie
	tabling member	4266 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Coventry

747973

	registered interest
	date	04/07/2017
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the decision by the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation to ban the Jehovah's Witnesses on the grounds that the group is considered to be an extremist organisation.
	tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Coventry
	uin	HL427
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/07/2017 answer text <p>The UK is deeply concerned by the dismissal of an appeal against the decision of Russia's Supreme Court to categorise the Jehovah's Witnesses as extremists. This ruling effectively criminalises the peaceful worship of some 175,000 Russian citizens and is at odds with the right to religious freedom which is enshrined in the Russian Constitution.</p><p>I issued a statement on 18 July expressing our concerns. We have raised this issue with the Russian Government and continue to call on them to uphold their commitment to this basic freedom in international fora, including in the Council of Europe.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 19/07/2017 15:57:06 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	4266 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Coventry

747974

	registered interest
	date	04/07/2017
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the peace accord between the government of the Central African Republic and 13 armed groups, signed in Rome on 19 June.
	tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Coventry
	uin	HL428
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/07/2017 answer text <p>Her Majesty's Government welcomes the peace accord, signed on 19 June. However, we remain concerned by continued violence between armed groups in the Central African Republic, which is causing heavy civilian loss of life and significant population displacement, despite the agreement including an immediate cessation of hostilities. We call on all armed group leaders immediately to implement the cessation provisions in the agreement as well as to honour their commitment, without any restriction, to the disarmament, demobilization, reintegration and repatriation process.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 13/07/2017 14:40:08 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	4266 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Coventry

747975

	registered interest
	date	04/07/2017
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the situation facing Bahá'ís and other religious minorities in Yemen.
	tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Coventry
	uin	HL429
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/07/2017 answer text <p>The Government is concerned about the situation faced by the Bahá'ís in Yemen. This is particularly the case in areas under the control of the Houthis and forces loyal to ex-president Saleh, where they have faced persecution due to their religious beliefs. The UK has raised the issue with the Government of Yemen and highlighted their plight through public diplomacy. Mr Burt, the Minister for the Middle East and North Africa, also met with representatives of the Bahá'í community on 13 July.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 19/07/2017 15:56:43 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	4266 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Coventry