Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean (Labour). It was answered on Thursday, 4 November 2010.

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Iraq: Religious Minorities

Question

My Lords, perhaps I may take that point a little further. I should like to ask the noble Lord what the Government’s view is on interfaith groups. Such groups manage to reach out to what are possibly the extremes of some faith groups. I am thinking particularly of the work of the noble and right reverend Lords, Lord Carey and Lord Harries of Pentregarth, that of the right reverend Prelates the Bishops of London and Coventry, as well as the wonderful work done by Canon Andrew White, of which the noble Lord will be well aware. Do the Government feel that these interfaith groups have an important role to play in trying to reach into those parts of faith communities in the Middle East that are perhaps operating in a way that many of us find repellent?

Answer

My Lords, I understand that Canon Andrew White has been in London and that Alistair Burt spoke to him yesterday. He is now returning to Baghdad. Of course we have to promote interfaith dialogue as actively as we can, but it is not always easy to get through to the more extreme groups. However, I trust that this is something with which many of us in this place and others outside are actively engaged.

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Secondary information

Type

Oral question

Reference

721 c1738 

Session

2010-12

Oral question type

Supplementary

Chamber / Committee

House of Lords chamber

Subjects

Crimes of violence Churches Iraq Minority groups Religious freedom Christianity

Link

View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk