Written questions, answers and statements

Nepal: Religious Freedom

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Question for Foreign and Commonwealth Office

UIN 10381, 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 effect of the Criminal Code Bill 2014, passed on 8 August 2017 by the Nepali Government, on freedom of religion or belief in Nepal.

Answer

Mark Field
Conservative
Cities of London and Westminster
Commons

Answered on

9 October 2017

Whilst the final legislation is not yet public the draft version of the Criminal code criminalised religious conversion and the hurting of religious sentiment, which could be interpreted in a way that would limit people’s rights to express their religion and, potentially, their right to choose their religion.

During drafting our officials in Nepal met with the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs to discuss the bill and raise the need for compliance with international human rights standards. This includes ensuring the protection of the right to change religion.

I have also raised this matter in my most recent meeting with the Nepalese Ambassador to London on 9 October 2017.

Answered by

Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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