Oral Answers to Questions

Matt Turmaine Excerpts

Thursday 15th January 2026 Commons Chamber

The hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, was asked—

[Matt Turmaine (Watford) (Lab)]

1. What steps the Church of England is taking to help support persecuted Christians in other countries.

[Andrew Rosindell (Romford) (Con)]

3. What steps the Church of England is taking to help tackle the persecution of Christians in other countries.

[The Second Church Estates Commissioner (Marsha De Cordova)]

It is a pleasure to see you at Church Commissioners questions this morning, Madam Deputy Speaker. I thank the Leader of the House for stepping in to cover questions last month, when I was unwell.

The Church of England remains deeply concerned about the rising persecution on grounds of faith and belief worldwide, including recent cases in Iran, Sudan, India and Palestine. Christian communities remain the most targeted. The Church is working closely with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to improve the faith literacy of its officials; supporting the International Panel of Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief; regularly providing resources to bishops to raise cases in the other place; and developing resources for use across the global Anglican communion.

[Matt Turmaine]

I thank my hon. Friend for her answer. I received many Christmas cards from residents in my Watford constituency who support the Open Doors campaign and are concerned about the persecution of Christians around the world. I have also met representatives of congregations in my constituency. Does she agree that the world watch list, which was published here in Parliament yesterday, is an important project to identify the locations of persecuted Christians around the world and encourage those countries to promote tolerance?

[Marsha De Cordova]

Yes, I do. I was pleased to attend the launch of the Open Doors world watch list here in Parliament yesterday, and to hear the powerful testimonies of those who have fled persecution. An estimated 338 million Christians are facing persecution across 50 countries, including Somalia, Sudan, Pakistan, Iran, Nigeria, India, Myanmar, Iraq and Egypt. Organisations such as Open Doors do vital work in raising awareness and highlighting the persecution of people of faith, and its report is a stark reminder of why global norms matter.