Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what steps he is taking to help promote the freedom of religion or belief in Nicaragua.

We share widespread international concern about the suppression of human rights in Nicaragua, including the right to freedom of religion or belief. In June 2023, in her capacity as Chair of the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance, the Prime Minister's Special Envoy, Fiona Bruce MP, issued an international statement condemning the continued persecution of the Catholic Church by the Nicaraguan Government. In my tweet on 16 January, I also condemned the detention of Catholic priests by the Nicaraguan Government. We continue to work with international partners to put pressure on the Ortega regime to re-establish democratic and other essential freedoms in Nicaragua.