Written question asked by Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party) on Monday, 13 March 2017, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 16 March 2017 (named day). It was answered by Tobias Ellwood (Conservative) on Thursday, 16 March 2017 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Sudan: Religious Buildings

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to his counterpart in Sudan on the reported decision by the Sudanese Government to order the demolition of up to 27 places of worship.

Answer: We remain concerned at the continued persecution of Christians in Sudan, including the alleged destruction of churches. Officials from our Embassy in Khartoum immediately raised our concerns directly with the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs when these particular allegations surfaced in January 2017. More widely, we continue to urge the Government of Sudan to uphold the commitment to their citizens in the Interim Constitution of 2005, within which religious freedom is enshrined.

Secondary information