I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 26 June in response to Question 11395.

On Orthodox Christian communities in Ethiopia, I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided in the House of Lords on 23 June in response to Question HL995. On the issue of humanitarian aid for Ethiopia, I refer him to the country-level allocations of Official Development Assistance set out in the Department's annual report and accounts for 2025/26, published on 16 July.

The UK is committed to championing freedom of religion or belief for all, and we are concerned by reports of harassment, vandalism and attacks affecting Christian communities. It is vital that the places of worship used by each religious community are treated with respect and dignity, and that all communities, including Palestinian Christians, are able to practise their faith or belief free from intimidation or violence. Our Consulate General in Jerusalem will continue to engage with church leaders and the Christian community in Palestine, to listen to their concerns.

The UK continues to support the historic status quo arrangements at Jerusalem's holy sites. We recognise and value the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan's essential role as custodian of the Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem. The protection of these arrangements is important for freedom of religion or belief, access to places of worship, and regional stability. The UK Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion and Belief discussed the issue of access to holy sites during his visit to the Holy See in March 2026. The Government of Israel must work with religious communities to facilitate worship in line with the status quo.

I refer the Noble Lord to the answer provided on 10 July in response to Question 15963, which - for ease of reference - is reproduced below:

"The UK is deeply concerned by the violence that took place in Haut-Mbomou Prefecture on 29 June and the reports of civilian casualties. We remain in regular contact with the Government of the Central African Republic (CAR) and the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) on the security situation in CAR, including in Haut-Mbomou. At the UN Security Council briefing on CAR on 23 June 2026, the UK raised ongoing protection concerns in Haut-Mbomou and asked how the Government of CAR and MINUSCA were working together to strengthen security and protect civilians. We continue to support MINUSCA's mandate to protect civilians and promote stability."

The UK is committed to promoting and defending Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB). The UK has discussed freedom of religion or belief with the Lao authorities through bilateral dialogue, including at the UK-Laos Political Dialogue which took place in London in September 2025. We also work through the UN to promote and protect these rights, including raising country specific issues at the UN Human Rights Council. Laos' UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR) was held in 2025, during which the UK raised concerns over restrictions on freedom of expression, assembly and religion.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 22 June in response to Question 10866 and to my written statement to the House on 29 April.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 22 June in response to Question 10866 and to my written statement to the House on 29 April.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided in the House of Lords on 23 June in response to Question HL995, reproduced below for ease of reference:

"We are concerned by reports of violence affecting communities in Ethiopia's Oromia region, including in Arsi Zone. The UK condemns all violence against civilians, including attacks against places of worship and people because of their religion. We continue to call on all parties to engage in dialogue to address the underlying causes of conflict. Through our Human Rights and Peacebuilding Programme, the UK supports dialogue efforts by local peacemakers, women's groups and the Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia alongside Early Warning Human Rights Networks raising security alerts. The UK also supports the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission's capacity to monitor, investigate and act upon violations affecting civilians."

The Government's position on Freedom of Religion or Belief in Iran is unchanged, as set out in the answer of 6 August 2025 to Question 67802, and it remains completely unacceptable for the Iranian authorities to target religious minority groups because of their faith.

At the UN Human Rights Council on 16 March, UK Human Rights Ambassador, Eleanor Sanders, stated that - while ethnic and religious minorities had faced consistent and severe repression since the Islamic Republic's inception - they had been acutely vulnerable during the recent US-Israel-Iran conflict. She urged the Iranian authorities not to exploit the conflict - as had been seen in the past - to inflict further violence on its people.

Further to the written ministerial statements I made to the House on 28 January (HLWS1285) and 29 April (HLWS1560), UK ministers and officials continue to support the efforts of the new Syrian government to build a more stable, inclusive, and representative country, where Christian communities and other religious minorities are protected from persecution and allowed to play their full part in Syria's transition. The importance of that inclusive political transition was further emphasised with President Al Sharaa, during his visit to the UK on 31 March.

We are aware of reports relating to Ewing Hall and Forman Christian College University, and of the Lahore High Court's interim order. It would not be appropriate to comment on ongoing legal proceedings in Pakistan, but the UK remains committed to promoting freedom of religion or belief for all in Pakistan, including the rights of religious minorities and access to inclusive education. We regularly raise human rights, including freedom of religion or belief and the protection of minority communities, with the Government of Pakistan at federal and provincial level, and will continue to monitor developments.

We are aware of reports relating to Ewing Hall and Forman Christian College University, and of the Lahore High Court's interim order. It would not be appropriate to comment on ongoing legal proceedings in Pakistan, but the UK remains committed to promoting freedom of religion or belief for all in Pakistan, including the rights of religious minorities and access to inclusive education. We regularly raise human rights, including freedom of religion or belief and the protection of minority communities, with the Government of Pakistan at federal and provincial level, and will continue to monitor developments.

I refer the Noble Bishop to the answer provided in the House of Commons on 24 June in response to Questions 10663-64, which - for ease of reference - is reproduced below:

The UK is monitoring the situation in Silwan closely, including the reported seizure of land belonging to the Greek Orthodox Church. The UK is committed to championing freedom of religion or belief for all, and that is particularly important in a city which holds such significance for the three Abrahamic faiths of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. It is vital that the historic holy sites where each religious community worships are treated with respect and dignity, and that the traditional arrangements enabling each group to practice their faith are upheld, including the Jerusalem Status Quo.

More generally, we know that the demolition of Palestinian property and the eviction of their residents by Israeli authorities is causing unnecessary suffering to communities throughout Palestine. We also condemn the seizure of land by extremist settler groups and their acts of brutal violence, and - as set out by the Foreign Secretary in her statement to the House on 9 June - the UK will continue to do everything possible to advance the two-state solution and hold violent extremist settler groups to account, including through our sanctions regime.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 22 June in response to Question 10876.

Since my statement to the House on 27 November 2025 (HWCS1105), we have continued to raise the importance of Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) with the Nigerian authorities on a regular basis, as well as the security situation for women and girls at risk of violence and abduction.

The Special Envoy for FoRB, David Smith MP, visited Nigeria in May, where he met with Nigerian Government figures including the National Security Advisor and Minister of Information to discuss promoting interreligious dialogue and tackling the causes of insecurity.

In April, the Minister of State for International Development and Africa, Baroness Chapman, attended the opening of the Nigeria Peace Summit, bringing together senior Muslim and Christian leaders to support Nigerian-led approaches to reducing intercommunal violence.

The Church of England and the Anglican Communion continue to support the ministry of the Anglican Archbishop of Jerusalem and the Diocese of Jerusalem alongside the Anglican Mission agencies operating in the region who largely provide healthcare and education to all living in the local communities in the West Bank and Gaza. The Archbishop of Canterbury is currently on a pilgrimage to the region, where she is learning and witnessing the work of these agencies

The Bishops of Southwark, Gloucester, Norwich and Chelmsford continue to highlight their ongoing concerns about increased settler violence in the West Bank and called for an end to the use of roadblocks and movement restrictions. They have joined His Holiness the Pope and the local heads of Churches, who have called for the protection of innocent civilians, freedom of movement and freedom to worship. There remain considerable concerns in Gaza about the access to building materials and healthcare

More broadly the treatment of the Christian communities in the towns and villages in the south of Lebanon is also being closely monitored during the ongoing conflict where these communities are becoming cut off from their land, farms and homes as infrastructure, roads and the water supply around the city of Tyre are bombed, damaged and left beyond use. Damage is also being caused to cultural heritage, UNESCO sites and some of the oldest churches in the region which have been targeted. These concerns have also been shared with the UK Government as part of regular conversations between the Church and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and other relevant Departments of State.

The UK remains committed to championing freedom of religion or belief for all around the world, including in Jerusalem where the protection of sacred sites and interfaith coexistence remain central to regional stability. The UK is clear on the need to respect the historic Status Quo arrangements. Our Consulate General in Jerusalem regularly meets with the Christian community in Jerusalem to hear any concerns.