Written question asked by Mary Glindon (Labour) on Thursday, 25 November 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 29 November 2010. It was answered by Alistair Burt (Conservative) on Tuesday, 30 November 2010 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Iraq: Christianity

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on recent trends in the level of violence towards Christians in Iraq.

Answer: Recent reports, from both the press and our embassy in Baghdad, have shown an increase in violence towards Christians in Iraq. The attack on the Our Lady of Salvation Church in Baghdad on 31 October was the worst attack on the Christian minority in recent years. The attack was followed by further attacks on mainly Christian areas of Baghdad on 10 November.We will continue to press the Iraqi authorities to do all they can to bring to justice those who are responsible for this attack on innocent worshippers, and all Iraq's politicians and diverse communities to work together to tackle the threat of violent extremism.

Secondary information