Written question asked by Lord Patten (Conservative), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Triesman (Labour) on Thursday, 15 June 2006.

Belarus: Religious Freedom

Question: What representations they have made to the Government of Belarus concerning the arrest of Christian leaders and the denial of religious freedoms.

Answer: The Government continue to raise human rights issues, including the right to religious freedom and assembly, with the Belarusian authorities, both bilaterally and together with EU partners. During the past 12 months Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials raised the case of one Protestant church on four separate occasions and restrictions on freedom of worship in general on at least 12 occasions. Freedom of worship was also referred to in a resolution critical of Belarus’s human rights record sponsored by the EU at the April 2005 UN Commission on Human Rights. Our ambassador in Minsk also met leaders of Churches under pressure from the authorities to hear their concerns and wrote to the Minister responsible late last year. To date he has not received a reply.

Secondary information