Ministers were warned during a debate in Parliament this week over a host of countries and minorities affected by persecution.
Organised by Christian and Democratic Unionists MP Jim Shannon, the meeting coincides with a month-long UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) summit in New York.
Speaking to Premier before Thursday’s debate, he said: “We want to bring to the floor of that chamber [at the UNHRC] – through our minister and through our Government officials – [information] that there are many people across the world who – because of their faith – are being persecuted.”
During the debate, Mr Shannon set out five areas of concern: violence against Christian farmers by herdsmen in Nigeria, controversial blasphemy and religious conversion laws in Nepal, persecution of the Baha’i people in Iran, forced conversions in Pakistan and abuses of religious freedoms in Eritrea.
He urged the UK’s UN minister, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, to use the UNHRC meeting to help advance rights for freedom of religion and belief.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon was also urged to hold talks with his counterparts from Nepal and Pakistan to discuss concerns raised by religious freedoms campaigners.
Responding to the debate, Mark Field, the Minister for Asia and the Pacific said the UK Government was committed to…
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