Written question asked by Baroness Blower (Labour) on Wednesday, 15 January 2025, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 29 January 2025. It was answered by Lord Collins of Highbury (Labour) on Monday, 27 January 2025 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Syria: Minority Groups

Question: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of how the United Kingdom and other international partners can protect minority communities in Syria.

Answer: As part of our intensive diplomatic engagement with international partners, and in discussions with the interim Syrian authorities, we have consistently advocated for an inclusive political transition and underlined the importance of protecting the rights of religious and ethnic minorities. The Foreign Secretary raised this most recently with interim Foreign Minister Al Shaybani at the International Contact Group for Syria in Riyadh on 12 January. We want to see a political transition process which leads to an inclusive, non-sectarian and representative government. We will continue to work with our international partners in support of this.

Secondary information