Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of recent reports of attacks on Hindus during Saraswati Puja in India and Bangladesh.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK condemns all acts of violence targeting religious or ethnic minorities and we have made clear the importance of protecting freedom of religious belief to key stakeholders in Bangladesh.

When I met PM Rahman in February, I discussed the importance of inclusion and protecting minorities, including Hindus, in line with the commitments he made in his victory address to safeguard the rights of all Bangladeshis. In February 2025, the UK's Human Rights Ambassador, Eleanor Sanders, visited Bangladesh and held meetings with the Interim Government to discuss issues of justice, accountability, and the protection of fundamental freedoms.

Our commitment to Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) is reflected in our £27 million Bangladesh Collaborative, Accountable and Peaceful Politics programme (2023-2028), which aims to protect civic space, foster inclusive dialogue, and address tensions that can lead to violence.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations she has made to the Government of China regarding recent legislative and policy developments affecting Tibetans, Uyghurs and other communities with distinct religious identities.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Government continues to engage with China on the issues of human rights and freedom of belief. We also continue to champion these issues at the UN and in the G7, as well as through our bilateral engagements.