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385736

registered interest
date	25/06/2015
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
hansard heading	Israel
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of hostility towards religious minorities in Israel following the arsonist attack on and desecration of the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves in Tabgha on the night of 17 June.
tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Coventry
uin	HL860
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/07/2015 answer text <p>Freedom of religion or belief continues to be a priority for this Government. We regularly raise individual cases and discriminatory legislation with other governments and we support overseas programmes designed to overcome prejudice, discrimination and sectarianism.</p><p>On 18 June, officials from our Embassy in Tel Aviv lobbied senior contacts in the Israeli National Security Council and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure quick and high level condemnation and action from the Israeli government to catch the perpetrators of this attack. On 19 June our Ambassador in Tel Aviv issued a local statement criticising the vandalising and burning of the Church &quot;Loaves and Fishes&quot; at the Kineret. He said &quot;This was a disgusting act of disrespect at one of Christianity's holiest sites. The British Government welcomes the determination of the Israeli authorities to bring those responsible to justice.”</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 03/07/2015 13:56:34 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
tabling member	4266 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Coventry

385737

registered interest
date	25/06/2015
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
hansard heading	Indonesia
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to support the government of Indonesia in its efforts to provide greater legislative protection for freedom of religion or belief in that country.
tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Coventry
uin	HL861
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/07/2015 answer text <p>Our Ambassador in Jakarta met the Indonesian Minister for Religious Affairs in April this year. During the meeting, he urged greater protection of religious beliefs and they discussed the Ministry’s forthcoming bill on protection for religious and faith communities (RUU PUB) on which the Ambassador offered UK assistance and expertise.</p><p>We have also supported a range of activities in this area, such as human rights training specifically related to freedom of religion for members of the Indonesian judiciary.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 07/07/2015 14:39:48 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
tabling member	4266 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Coventry

385738

registered interest
date	25/06/2015
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
hansard heading	Sudan
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Sudan regarding the continued imprisonment and persecution of the Reverend Yat Michael and the Reverend Peter Reith.
tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Coventry
uin	HL862
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/07/2015 answer text <p>I refer the noble Bishop to my answer of 22 June to the noble Baroness Cox (HL315), that our Embassy in Khartoum has previously raised these cases with the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Since then we have maintained close contact with the legal teams working on behalf of the two pastors, and an official from our Embassy in Khartoum attended the latest court hearing on 15 June. We will continue to co-ordinate with other Embassies in Khartoum to ensure the international community is represented at the ongoing legal proceedings.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 06/07/2015 11:52:49 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
tabling member	4266 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Coventry

385739

registered interest
date	25/06/2015
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
hansard heading	Saudi Arabia
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the steps taken by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to combat exclusionary and intolerant interpretations of religious texts by religious clerics.
tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Coventry
uin	HL863
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2015 answer text <p>The Saudi Arabian government, from His Royal Highness King Salman down, continue to challenge exclusionary and intolerant interpretations of religious texts by religious clerics, as does the religious establishment. During his accession speech King Salman called for tolerance amongst religions, and during his recent speech marking the start of Ramadan he reaffirmed that he was firmly against any kind of sectarian classification or divisions among the different schools of Islam. The Saudi Arabian authorities have a programme to ensure that text books no longer contain material that could be considered hateful or inciteful. We will continue to support dialogue and opportunities for reform. However, freedom of religion or belief is severely restricted in Saudi Arabia. Public expression of any religion other than Islam is forbidden and non-Muslims are not permitted to worship openly or establish places of worship in Saudi Arabia, although private worship is permitted.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 08/07/2015 13:23:59 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
tabling member	4266 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Coventry

385740

registered interest
date	25/06/2015
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
hansard heading	Burma
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Myanmar concerning the Population Control Health Care Law and how it can be implemented in a non-discriminatory way.
tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Coventry
uin	HL864
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/07/2015 answer text <p>We have made representations on all four of the so-called ‘protection of race and religion bills’, including the population law. We remain concerned that these laws could harm religious tolerance and respect for diversity in Burma, and contravene international standards and treaties to which Burma is a signatory. We have voiced our concerns over the proposed legislation to members of the Burmese government and parliamentarians. The then Minister of State for the Home Department, the right hon. Lynne Featherstone, raised the issue when she met Deputy Foreign Minister Thant Kyaw during her visit to Burma in January. The UK also endorsed a local statement issued by EU Heads of Mission in Rangoon in January, reiterating those concerns and calling on the Burmese government and parliament to ensure that all new legislation is fully compliant with Burma’s international human rights obligations. The population bill was also raised in the EU/Burma Human Rights Dialogue on 18 June.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 07/07/2015 15:01:17 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
tabling member	4266 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Coventry

381632

registered interest
date	16/06/2015
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
hansard heading	Iraq
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their most recent assessment of the steps taken by the government of Iraq to encourage political reconciliation and the move towards an inclusive framework of government in Iraq.
tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Coventry
uin	HL548
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2015 answer text We welcome the commitments that Prime Minister al-Abadi has made to reaching out to all of Iraq’s communities, including the Sunni community, and delivering the reforms needed to secure a meaningful political settlement. Prime Minister al-Abadi has already taken some important steps in this regard, including appointing the most inclusive government that Iraq has seen for a decade, securing an important revenue sharing deal with the Kurdistan Regional government and building cross-party support for the 2015 budget. We will continue to support Prime Minister al-Abadi as he works to progress political reconciliation and a unified response to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 24/06/2015 15:38:17 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
tabling member	4266 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Coventry

381633

registered interest
date	16/06/2015
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
hansard heading	Iraq: Religious Freedom
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their most recent assessment of freedom of religion or belief in Iraq and what assessment they have made of the steps taken by the government of Iraq to protect this human right.
tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Coventry
uin	HL549
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/06/2015 answer text <p>We firmly believe in the importance of freedom of religion or belief. The persecution of individuals of all faiths, anywhere in the world, is of profound concern to us. The self-styled Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) is seeking to stoke sectarian conflict across the Middle East and has launched a campaign of violence and terror in Iraq and carried out appalling atrocities against people from all communities.</p><p>We welcome the commitments that Prime Minister al-Abadi has made to inclusivity, to protecting Iraqi citizens, addressing human rights abuses and holding those responsible to account.</p><p>In 2015/16, the recently launched Conflict, Security and Stability Fund will provide funding for a number of projects in Iraq. One key strand of this work will focus on community cohesion, encouraging reconciliation and promoting acceptance and tolerance between communities at a grass roots level. We continue to encourage influential religious leaders in Iraq to speak out publicly and condemn sectarian violence.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 25/06/2015 14:39:09 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
tabling member	4266 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Coventry

381634

registered interest
date	16/06/2015
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
hansard heading	Iraq
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to assist the government of Iraq with its community-building efforts in post-conflict areas such as Tikrit where ISIS have been expelled.
tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Coventry
uin	HL550
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2015 answer text <p>Restoring security, governance and vital services to areas liberated from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) are important for the safe return of those displaced by violence and to stop ISIL retaking ground. This stabilisation work is one of the five lines of effort in the Counter-ISIL Coalition’s strategy. It must be led by the Iraqi government, but closely supported by the international Counter-ISIL Coalition.</p><p>The UK is actively supporting the Iraqi government in a number of ways: as a key member of the Coalition Stabilisation Working Group; providing technical expertise and advice to the Iraqi government-led Stabilisation Task Force in Baghdad; and through our military and humanitarian support. On 2 June, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), joined other Coalition ministers to review the Coalition’s progress in defeating ISIL, including ways to support communities recovering from the effects of ISIL’s brutal occupation. During the meeting, the Foreign Secretary announced that the UK would pledge £2 million in support to the UN Development Programme’s Funding Facility for Immediate Stabilisation.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 24/06/2015 15:52:27 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
tabling member	4266 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Coventry

381635

registered interest
date	16/06/2015
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
hansard heading	Iraq: Minority Groups
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the long-term future of Christians and other religious minorities in Iraq; and what steps they are taking to assist Iraq's religious minorities.
tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Coventry
uin	HL551
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/06/2015 answer text <p>The British Government continues to condemn in the strongest terms the atrocities committed by the self-styled Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) against all communities throughout the areas under its control. There is no doubt that religious and ethnic minorities face real dangers and great hardship in parts of Iraq. To safeguard the future of religious minorities we have to confront, drive back, dismantle and ultimately defeat ISIL and promote an inclusive and stable Iraq that recognises the importance of all its communities.</p><p>We are in contact with religious leaders to discuss this issue. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth East (Mr Ellwood), visited Iraq on 12 February and encouraged Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi to continue progress on ensuring that all minorities are represented and their rights protected. I met Archbishop Bashar Warda of Erbil to discuss the ongoing situation in northern Iraq.</p><p>In 2015/16, the recently launched Conflict, Security and Stability Fund will provide funding for a number of projects in Iraq. One key strand of this work will focus on community cohesion, encouraging reconciliation and promoting acceptance and tolerance between communities at a grass roots level. We continue to encourage influential religious leaders in Iraq to speak out publicly and condemn sectarian violence. We will continue to explore what further support we might be able to provide to vulnerable groups and internally displaced persons.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 25/06/2015 14:48:47 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
tabling member	4266 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Coventry

178670

registered interest
date	09/02/2015
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
hansard heading	India
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of freedom of religion or belief in India following the election of Prime Minister Modi.
tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Coventry
uin	HL4820
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/02/2015 answer text <p>UK Ministers and officials from our High Commission in New Delhi discuss religious and minority issues with the Indian National Commission for Minorities and other relevant State-level authorities. Most recently, the Minister of State at the Home Office with responsibility for Crime Prevention, my right Hon. Friend the Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Lynne Featherstone), met the Indian Minister for Minorities in January. Our High Commission also maintains regular contact with senior faith leaders and along with EU partners met with the Archbishop of Delhi on 13 February. During their visit to India last week, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association also discussed the recent attacks on churches in New Delhi with the Indian Minister for Minorities. We will continue to maintain a dialogue with the new Indian government about religious and minority rights issues.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns grouped question UIN HL4821 question first answered 23/02/2015 17:46:43 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
tabling member	4266 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Coventry