Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of recent levels of discrimination against the Alevi community in Turkey; and whether he has raised that discrimination with his Turkish counterpart.

The UK has long encouraged Turkey to work towards the full protection of fundamental rights, particularly in the areas of freedom of expression and of religion or belief, including those of minority communities such as the Alevis. We are aware of concerns voiced by the Alevi community.

We encourage the Turkish authorities to safeguard their welfare and respect their human rights, in line with provisions in the Turkish constitution that protect the rights of religious minorities. We will continue to engage the Turkish Government on these issues and to urge respect for these freedoms which are essential to the long-term health of Turkish democracy. I raised human rights with my Turkish counterpart on 28 June during my visit to Turkey.