Written questions, answers and statements

Nepal: Religious Freedom

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Question for Foreign and Commonwealth Office

UIN 10378, tabled on 13 September 2017

Question

Jim Shannon
Democratic Unionist Party
Strangford
Commons

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the state of freedom of religion or belief in Nepal.

Answer

Mark Field
Conservative
Cities of London and Westminster
Commons

Answered on

9 October 2017

The right to freedom of religion is enshrined in the Nepali Constitution of September 2015, however we are concerned that provisions around changing religion are open to interpretation. Freedom of religion or belief – particularly conversion - remains a sensitive issue. Our Embassy in Kathmandu monitors the human rights situation closely and has consistently encouraged the Government of Nepal and members of Nepal's parliament to ensure Nepal meets its international human rights obligations, this includes freedom of religion or belief, and we will continue to do so. I also raise these issues with the Nepalese Ambassador to London at a meeting on 9 October 2017.

Answered by

Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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