Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions the Foreign Secretary has had with the interim President of Syria on freedom of religion and belief, and whether specific reference was made to the persecution of Christians in Syria and the wider Middle East.

The UK strongly condemns the terrorist attack at Mar Elias Church. The Foreign Secretary expressed his condolences to President Al-Sharaa during his visit to Damascus on 5 July. We have consistently underlined the importance of protecting all civilians, both publicly and as part of our engagement with the Syrian Government, including during the Foreign Secretary's recent visit. We continue to monitor the situation closely and advocate for the right to Freedom of Religion or Belief for all.