Christianity is at risk of being “sweeped out” in parts of the world to intensify persecution, a special envoy for the freedom of religion and belief in Britain warned by David Smith. The UK government is currently targeting ten countries as part of the focus of a revised foreign policy to defend this human rights.
North Sumberland Labour MP Smith made his remarks during a briefing at the Foreign Federal Development Office. Previously working with the Tears and Biblical Society, Christians have announced a new plan to prioritize Forbe in a country where religious minorities, including Christians, Bahah and Ahmadhya Muslims, face repression or violence.
Smith said the UK will name Vietnam, Algeria, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, China, Syria, Ukraine, Afghanistan and Iraq, focusing on 10 countries. He said these were chosen because of the seriousness of the need, British diplomatic relations and the possibility of progress.
He added that persecution committed by both government and social groups can cite research from the Pew Research Center, including police harassment, social expulsion, detention, denial of citizenship, torture, attacks on places of worship, and even murder.
He cited recent data showing that 380 million Christians face persecution around the world, warning that “persecution occurs on every continent of the world based on religion or beliefs established by the state itself and social groups.”
Smith called the UK’s commitment “a new chapter in foreign policy,” saying religious freedom is linked to other freedoms, including freedom of speech, conscience, and assembly.
Of the 10 selected, only three are Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan, among them are one of the top 10 on the Open Doors World Watch list, identifying the countries where Christians are most severely persecuted. The worst criminals on that list, including North Korea, Somalia and Yemen, are not one of the UK’s current priorities.
Smith acknowledged the gap, saying countries like Eritrea and Yemen will remain within his scope through continued defense. He said that the target nature of the strategy does not prevent the UK from acting in other cases on behalf of prisoners of conscience.
He mentioned the Ahmadhya community in Pakistan. Pakistan is not recognized as a Muslim by the state, and mosques were often misled, referring to the crackdown on Iranian Baha and North Korean Christians.
Forbe is not just about religious beliefs, but also about social health. “Religious intolerance and persecution can promote instability and conflict,” he said. He added that protecting the right to belief is important to prevent future crises, especially in countries that are tackling war and sectarian divisions.
The UK government’s FORB strategy includes five chains.
First, it aims to maintain international standards through institutions such as the United Nations and European security cooperation agencies. Second, it embeds the issue in targeted bilateral diplomacy and encourages individual missions to raise FORBs in foreign capitals. Third, the UK will strengthen the United Nations, addressing religious freedom. Fourth, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will incorporate FORB into mainstream human rights programming. The fifth chain involves cooperation with civil society groups working on respect and awareness among pagans.
Speaking at the briefing, Human Rights Minister, Highbury, Lord Collins, said the UK has long believed that rights and the rule of law will strengthen the world’s prosperity and resilience. He said his office was already written to the head of a mission instructing the UK mission head to embed human rights, including Forbe, into all areas of diplomatic work.
He cited the recent releases of two individuals, Nigerian atheist Mubarak Bala and Cuba’s Pastor Lorenzo Rosales Fajardo, as examples of successful British-backed advocacy.
“Only by working together, everyone can live anywhere with dignity and build a world where they can be fearlessly free to believe, or incredible,” said Lord Collins.
In April, Smith said in debate that Britain’s diplomatic stance was informed by its own history of moving “from persecution to pluralism.” He described Britain as “uniquely well placed” to act in support of religious freedom, citing its legacy of legal rights and peaceful pluralism.
The role of Forb Envoy was created following a 2019 report by the then bishop of Truro Philip Mounstephen. The report provided recommendations that religious freedom would be formally integrated into British foreign policy.
Smith argued that defending the FORB benefits not only the persecuted community but also those engaged in oppression. He reaffirmed his commitment to spurring action on the British government, saying the FORB can unleash new opportunities and freedoms for their nation to flourish.
Meanwhile, Christian said today that a new study by Jersey Road PR found that mainstream British media rarely report attacks on Christians around the world.
Originally published by The Christian Post.
