Written question asked by Lord Patten (Conservative) on Tuesday, 17 March 2015, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 31 March 2015. It was answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative) on Wednesday, 25 March 2015 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Turkey

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they last discussed with the government of Turkey the freedom of United Kingdom visitors to practise their religion in that country, and with what result.

Answer: We regularly raise the issue of religious freedom in bilateral discussions with the Turkish government. In January 2015 our Ambassador in Ankara discussed, inter alia, freedom of religion with Professor Dr Mehmet Görmez, the Head of the Diyanet (Presidency of Religious Affairs) of Turkey. Our Embassy in Ankara has regular meetings with religious groups and civil society to discuss the strengthening of the freedom of religion in Turkey. The European Commission’s 2014 Annual Progress Report on Turkey confirmed that freedom of worship continued to be generally respected.

Secondary information