By Lianne Kolirin
Britain is to focus its overseas efforts to protect freedom of religion or belief in 10 countries, the government has announced.
Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) is a human right guaranteed by the 1948 United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights which states that everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, as well as the freedom to choose, change and practise belief or faith.
Yet many groups face discrimination on these grounds around the world, and research suggests that restrictions are widespread on freedom to worship publicly and the appointment of faith leaders.
The government, which in December appointed David Smith, the Labour MP North Northumberland, as special envoy for FoRB, laid out its approach to tackling the global concern.
“Today the UK makes a new commitment to the centrality of FoRB in our foreign policy,” Mr Smith said during a briefing at the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office on Tuesday.
Mr Smith, a Christian who previously worked at Tearfund and the Bible Society, told the briefing that the need to protect freedom of religion or belief was greater than ever, as research for the Pew Research Centre showed that the number of countries with high or very high levels of government restrictions was at its highest level since 2007.
Such government restrictions can take the form of “social ostracism, police harassment, arbitrary detention, denial of citizenship, assault, destruction of sites of religious worship, torture, and killings,” he said.
The government’s efforts to protect and promote freedom of religion or belief internationally would now focus on 10 countries where “the need is greatest” Mr Smith said. These are: Vietnam, Algeria, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, China, Syria, Ukraine, Afghanistan and Iraq.
“I will be focusing on countries where the need is greatest; where opportunities exist to make positive change; and where the UK, specifically, has the relationships and partnerships to help achieve this,” he said.
More than half of these have experienced religion-related wars, militant activity or sectarian violence, including Afghanistan, Syria and Nigeria. Meanwhile, some countries such as China and Vietnam have governments that are hostile to religious institutions, according to Pew’s research.
“I would like to suggest that our place on the international stage must continue to revolve around our values as a country, values which we aim to humbly share with the rest of the world,” Mr Smith said.
“It’s easy to talk about principles like ‘freedom’, ‘human rights’, ‘respect’, ‘tolerance’ or ‘justice’ — and far harder to live up to their meaning in our actions.
“And yet the history of this country is one in which we have worked hard to create a plural society based on these values. We don’t always get it right, but I am proud that in the UK today you are free to practise your religion or belief, without fear of persecution.”
Mr Smith highlighted the case of the Ahmadiyya Muslims in Pakistan, who are not recognised as Muslims by the state, and their mosques have repeatedly been desecrated by extremist groups. He also highlighted the plight of the Baháʼí in Iran and Christians, among other religions, in North Korea.
Protecting these freedoms was not solely about religion but will have broader repercussions for society, Mr Smith explained: these are not niche issues. Freedom of religion or belief was central to the problems of the world today and to efforts to build a better world at peace with itself.
“Religious intolerance and persecution can fuel instability and conflict. So it is right that our approach works to support those countries navigating the impact of conflict — past and present — to protect freedom of religion or belief for all,” he added.
Although those countries would be the focus, Britain’s efforts will not be limited to them, he said. “It is important to say that a more targeted approach doesn’t limit us.” Overall, the aim of the work was to “speak up for those who can’t speak for themselves”, he said.
The government’s approach has five core strands. The first is to uphold and maintain support for international standards by working with international bodies such as the UN and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
Second, the British government will focus on the issue through “targeted bilateral relationships”, meaning diplomats around the world will work directly with foreign governments on this issue.
Strengthening coalitions is the third strand, and the fourth is to incorporate freedom of religion or belief into the Foreign Office’s mainstream work as part of a “holistic human rights approach”.
The fifth strand was about working with civil society, Mr Smith told the gathering, many of whom were from that sector.
“From sharing information to fostering understanding and respect between different religion or belief communities on the ground, your engagement is central to the protection and promotion of FoRB,” he said.
Earlier Lord Collins of Highbury, the minister for human rights, said he had championed the cause “for a very long time”.
“The evidence is clear,” he said. “Countries that uphold rights and the rule of law tend to be more stable, more prosperous and more resilient. That’s why I wrote to all heads of mission [diplomats] last month, underlining the importance of embedding our human rights priorities into every aspect of our work,” he said.
When religion and belief were protected other rights tended to follow, he said. However, he added that “these rights remain out of reach for too many people” in places where “persecution and repression are a daily reality”.
“We know this work is complex,” he said. “There’s no one-size-fits-all.” Partnership was key, “to find common ground and deliver change”.
He highlighted two success stories that had been supported by the UK government: Mubarak Bala, a Nigerian atheist, was released from prison after a long-running campaign by Humanists International, supported by the government. Lord Collins also highlighted the government’s support for Cuban Pastor Lorenzo Rosales Fajardo who was released from prison earlier this year having been detained for peaceful protest.
“These are powerful reminders that our collective efforts can have real impact,” he said. “Only by working together can we build a world where everyone, everywhere, can live with dignity, free to believe — or not believe — without fear.”
