Iraq: Islamic State

Question

I am deeply concerned for the safety of Christians in parts of Iraq controlled by Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). ISIL captured Qaraqosh in August 2014. Since then there have been reports of barbaric treatment of Christians in Qaraqosh and of ISIL committing atrocities against Muslims, Christians, Yezidis, Turkmen and other communities throughout the areas under their control. We condemn all such atrocities and violations of the right to freedom of religion or belief. The UK Government has been working closely with our international partners on countering the threat of ISIL. We have been at the forefront of efforts at the UN and the EU and we are playing a key role in the Global Coalition to counter ISIL. We are taking military and political action, as well as discrediting ISIL’s poisonous ideology, cutting off its finances, tackling foreign fighters and by providing nearly £60 million of aid to Iraqis displaced by the fighting.