Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of religious freedom in Somalia; what representations his Department has made to the Somali Government on improving the protection of religious freedom; and if he will make a statement.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office assesses that Somalia has made some progress towards upholding and protecting human rights, including freedom of religion or belief. However, there continue to be serious violations and abuses and a culture of impunity persists. The British Government has not made specific representations to the Somali Government on protection of religious freedoms, but has consistently called for the protection of all human rights in Somalia and for the Somali Government to fulfil its international obligations and commitments. This includes the UK statement at the 36th session of the UN Human Rights Council on 27 September 2017 and in the communiqué of the London Somalia Conference held in May 2017.