Written question asked by Patrick Grady (Scottish National Party) on Friday, 3 March 2023, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 8 March 2023. It was answered by Andrew Mitchell (Conservative) on Monday, 13 March 2023 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Eritrea: Religious Freedom

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to help protect religious freedom in Eritrea.

Answer: Freedom of religion or belief, of the media and of travel are important rights. The British Embassy in Asmara regularly raises human rights issues with the Eritrean Government, with the freedom of religion or belief being one of the UK's priorities; the Embassy has consistently called for the release of those arbitrarily incarcerated for their religion. The UK has encouraged the Eritrean Government to implement in full the agreed recommendations of the 2019 UN Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review, through which we have raised our views, and to cooperate with the mandate of the Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Eritrea.

Secondary information