Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (HL8304), whether British Christians and Jews may set up new public buildings for their worship in Turkey.

In order for religious groups to establish new places of worship in Turkey they must apply to the Turkish government for them to be legally recognised as places of worship. If constructing a new building as a place of worship, religious groups must first apply for permission from the municipality to do so. It is against the law to hold religious services at a location not recognized by the government as a place of worship; the government may fine or close the venues of those violating the law.