Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will hold discussions with his counterpart in the US Administration on the decision to amend its list of countries of particular concern to exclude Nigeria in the context of continuing reports of persecution of Christians in that country.

The removal of Nigeria from the list of Violators of Religious Freedom is a matter for the Government of the United States of America alone.

The Government is committed to defending freedom of religion or belief for all, and promoting respect between different religious and non-religious communities. This is one of the Government's longstanding human rights priorities. Through our co-founding membership of the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance, we work with other countries, including the United States of America, to advocate for the rights of those who face discrimination or persecution because of their religion or belief.