Written question asked by Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party) on Tuesday, 3 March 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 5 March 2026. It was answered by Hamish Falconer (Labour) on Wednesday, 18 March 2026 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Iraq: Religious Freedom

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has a strategy for monitoring (a) the protection of Iraqi religious minorities, (b) missing Yazidi women and children, (c) survivor recovery and (d) accountability for genocide-related crimes.

Answer: The UK is firmly committed to protecting ethnic and religious minorities in Iraq, and promoting Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB). Through our diplomatic presence, we regularly monitor and raise these issues with the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government, including the situation of missing Yazidi women and children, survivor recovery, and accountability for crimes committed by Daesh. FoRB-specific objectives are threaded throughout our programme work in Iraq, especially following Iraq's recognition as a UK FoRB priority country in October 2025. On Yazidi communities specifically, I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 17 March in response to Question HL15070.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 117286
Session: 2024-26
Subjects: Iraq Genocide Minority groups Missing persons Religious freedom Yazidis
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk