Written question asked by Lady Hermon (Ulster Unionist Party) on Tuesday, 8 May 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 10 May 2007. It was answered by Kim Howells (Labour) on Tuesday, 15 May 2007 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Iraq: Religious Freedom

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate she has made of the numbers of Christians (a) killed, (b) displaced and (c) otherwise persecuted in Iraq since the invasion of that country.

Answer: Maintaining such records is a matter for the Government of Iraq. While there are no comprehensive or reliable figures available on the number of Christians killed, displaced or persecuted since 2003, the International Organisation for Migration estimates that 7 per cent. to 8 per cent. of people internally displaced in Iraq in 2006 were Christians.We remain deeply concerned about the impact of violence on all Iraqis. We continue to press the Government of Iraq to improve security and support international efforts to care for those affected by violence. Since the beginning of 2007 we have allocated £10 million for the humanitarian effort co-ordinated by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and International Committee of the Red Cross.

Secondary information