Baroness Cox – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Cox on 2016-04-28.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Nigeria on the promotion of freedom of religion and belief in Nigeria.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

This Government is firmly committed to promoting and protecting the right to freedom of religion or belief around the world, and to being a strong voice internationally in defence of this fundamental right.

Religious freedom is protected by the Nigerian Constitution and we regularly discuss with the Nigerian government at the highest levels our concern about threats to this right, including the threat Boko Haram poses to communities of different faiths and ethnicities. Boko Haram seeks to undermine religious freedom by attacking all Nigerians who do not subscribe to its extremist views. It has committed atrocities against people of all faiths, including Christians and Muslims.

We will continue to work with the Nigerian government, non-governmental organisations and civil society to improve the security situation and human rights for all in Nigeria.