Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Indian counterpart on (a) violence against and (b) the effect of anti-conversion laws on Christians in India.
Answered by Catherine West
The UK Government is committed to promoting and protecting the right to freedom of religion or belief globally. We continue to monitor developments affecting religious communities in India, including Christians, and consider these issues as part of our broader human rights work. We support efforts to uphold inclusive societies and the rule of law, and we regularly engage with international partners and stakeholders on matters relating to human rights.
The British High Commission in New Delhi and Deputy High Commissions across India regularly meet with religious representatives from different faith communities and monitor the situation closely.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he has made to his Nigerian counterpart on the killing of over 200 Christians in Yelewata on 19 June 2025; and what diplomatic steps he is taking to help (a) support the protection of religious minorities and (b) hold perpetrators accountable in that country.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
While the Foreign Secretary has not yet discussed the violent attacks in Yelewata with his Nigerian counterpart, UK officials have been actively engaging on broader security issues in Benue State. On 10 June, UK officials met the Member of the House of Representatives for Makurdi/Guma in Benue State to discuss the root causes of insecurity in the region. During his visit to Nigeria in May, the Minister for Africa raised Freedom of Religion and Belief and ongoing insecurity in discussions with Nigerian counterparts, including the Foreign Minister and Deputy Speaker. We are working with Nigeria's security forces to tackle insecurity and violence against civilian communities, including those of different religious backgrounds and belief systems, through our UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership (SDP). Additionally, through the Strengthening Peace and Resilience Programme (SPRiNG), the UK supports initiatives to enhance the capacity of state institutions and community groups to arrest and prosecute perpetrators.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will give posthumous awards to John Chapman, James Henderson and James Kirby who previously served in the armed forces and were killed whilst delivering aid in Gaza in April 2024.
Answered by Catherine West
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is replying because, at the time of their deaths, John Chapman, James Henderson and James Kirby were not serving members of the UK Armed Forces and were working overseas.
Government's priority is securing justice for the appalling strike that killed John Chapman, James Henderson, and James Kirby. We continue to press Israel to swiftly conclude the Military Advocate General's investigation into events on the 1 April 2024, including determining whether criminal proceedings should be initiated. The Foreign Secretary has repeatedly pressed Foreign Affairs Minister Sa'ar and Minister of Strategic Affairs Dermer for the Military Advocate General to conclude consideration of the case swiftly and thoroughly.
The FCDO looked carefully at the very sad circumstances of their deaths and acknowledge their sacrifice and dedicated contribution but there are no national UK awards that they would be eligible for. However, we continue to support the family and the Prime Minister met with them on 9 June.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic conditions his Department has attached to engaging with the transitional authorities in Sudan on freedom of religion or belief.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We will continue to recognise the persecution of individuals on the basis of their religion or belief. On 8 July, the Minister for Africa co-hosted the launch of the UK Approach to Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) with David Smith MP, UK Special Envoy for FoRB, with the overarching goal to reduce the number of countries in which the right to FoRB is significantly curtailed. The Minister for Africa expressed concern about the situation for religious and ethnic minorities impacted by Sudan's war. David Smith MP also made a statement at the UN Human Rights Council on 4 March, highlighting our unease about the coercion of non-Muslims in Sudan to change their beliefs through denial of work, food aid, and education. The UK's Special Representative for Sudan has visited Port Sudan three times since December 2024 to press the Sudanese Armed Forces to comply with the Jeddah Declaration of Commitments to Protect Civilians from continued atrocities. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials have raised similar issues in communication with representatives from the Rapid Support Forces on different occasions since the start of the conflict. We have used these exchanges to request that their leadership make every effort to protect civilians and cease atrocities.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterpart in Armenia on tackling the transit of goods from (a) western countries to Russia and (b) Russia to western countries through Armenia in order to circumvent sanctions.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I raised the issue of Russian sanctions evasion with the Armenian Foreign Minister on 11 April, in the margins of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, as I have with other international partners. The UK Government has issued tailored guidance to UK exporters working with businesses in several countries, including Armenia, to raise awareness of the risks associated with sanctions circumvention and to support compliance with UK sanctions law. The UK Government has also recently published guidance for non-UK businesses operating in countries where there is a heightened risk of circumvention of UK sanctions. This guidance has been translated into local languages including Armenian.
As I have reiterated in my conversations with international partners, including Armenia, maintaining vigilance against Russian sanctions evasion is critical. Any circumvention undermines the effectiveness of international pressure on Russia and risks prolonging the war in Ukraine. I am pleased to see an ongoing decrease in Common High Priority (CHP) items exported from Armenia to Russia over the course of the past year.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has submitted any recent human rights reports to the UN on China's regulation of (a) religious education and (b) clergy training.
Answered by Catherine West
Chinese regulations on religious activity severely restrict religious and cultural expression in China. This Government stands firm on human rights, including the right to freedom of religion or belief.
We continue to uphold the right to freedom of religion or belief through our position at the UN, G7 and other multilateral fora. We have raised these concerns recently with the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights. We also joined an Australia-led joint statement at the UN General Assembly in October 2024 on freedoms in the Xinjiang and Tibetan regions, calling out the erosion of educational and religious rights and freedoms in China.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for its policies of recent reports of the (a) detention and (b) deportation of members of the Baha'i community in Qatar; what representations he has made to his Qatari counterpart on the protection of religious minorities in that country; and what steps he is taking to support international efforts to (i) promote religious freedom and (ii) protect minority communities in the region.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is a strong advocate for freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all. No one should live in fear because of what they do or do not believe in. As part of the UN Universal Periodic Review in November 2024, the UK called on Qatar to adopt legislation to ensure non-discrimination on the grounds of disability, gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, or belief.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the challenges girls and young women in north-east Nigeria face who (a) have escaped Boko Haram captivity and (b) according to recent reports experience (i) unlawful detention and (ii) inadequate support from (A) the military and (B) government authorities following their escape.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
In North East Nigeria, women and girls face severe challenges due to gender-based vulnerabilities, including heightened risks of sexual violence such as rape, exploitation, and forced marriage. Boko Haram has frequently abducted women and girls for sexual slavery. Conflict-driven displacement further increases these dangers. We welcomed Nigeria's endorsement of both the Call to Action and the Murad Code as crucial steps for greater practical action to tackle Conflict Related Sexual Violence (CRSV). We continue to urge Nigeria to ensure the detention of all children, including those linked to armed groups, aligns with international juvenile standards. The UK also calls for urgent action to protect those at risk of conflict-related sexual violence, particularly in displacement camps. Through the Integrated Security Fund, the UK supports efforts to protect and empower women and girls in the region. This includes deploying senior policing experts to work with Borno State Police, enhancing investigations into sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and improving forensic evidence collection.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps his Department is taking to tackle the persecution of Ahmadi Muslims in (a) Pakistan and (b) other countries; and what discussions he has had with his counterpart in Pakistan on human rights for Ahmadi Muslims.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Promoting freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) is a core part of the UK's diplomatic engagement overseas. In March 2025, I raised the rights of Ahmadi Muslims in a meeting with Pakistan's Minister of State for Interior. In June 2025, ahead of Eid al-Adha, I also raised the safety and dignity of Ahmadis seeking to practice their faith with Pakistan's Human Rights Minister. Working with the Special Envoy for FoRB, David Smith MP, we continue to champion the right to FoRB around the world - promoting tolerance and mutual respect through our engagement in multilateral organisations, our bilateral work, and our programme funding.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Sri Lankan counterpart on the recent excavations of a mass grave of Chemmani in Sri Lanka.
Answered by Catherine West
The UK Government is deeply concerned by the recent discovery of the mass grave in Chemmani. We remain committed to supporting accountability for human rights violations and we regularly meet the Government of Sri Lanka to discuss reconciliation and accountability and to press for tangible progress, particularly on cases of enforced disappearances. In January, I visited Sri Lanka and met a range of stakeholders including the Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, civil society organisations, as well as political leaders in the north of Sri Lanka to discuss human rights. Officials at our High Commission in Colombo maintain close contact with families of the disappeared from across the country, working to ensure their voices are heard, and have raised this issue with the Government of Sri Lanka. We continue to lead international efforts such as at the UN Human Rights Council alongside the Core Group to ensure perpetrators are held to account.