Written question asked by Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party) on Monday, 12 January 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 14 January 2026. It was answered by Chris Elmore (Labour) on Tuesday, 20 January 2026 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Eritrea: Christianity

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the level of persecution of Christians in Eritrea.

Answer: The Government consistently raises human rights with the Eritrean government, including religious freedoms. We advocate for the end of discriminatory detentions based on religion or belief, as we have stated at the UN Human Rights Council. We call for all those unjustly incarcerated to be released. The UK's Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea raised human rights during her most recent visit to Eritrea in December 2025 and the UK supports the work of the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Eritrea, voting in favour of his mandate renewal in July 2025.

Secondary information