Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with the Syrian Ambassador on the suicide bombing in Damascus on 22 June 2025; and what diplomatic steps he is taking to help protect people practicing minority religions in Syria.

The UK strongly condemned the terrorist attack at Mar Elias Church, and remains committed to combatting terrorism. There is not currently a Syrian Ambassador to the UK, but during the Foreign Secretary's recent visit to Damascus, he expressed his condolences to President Al-Sharaa. He also underlined the importance of an inclusive political transition and protecting the rights of all Syrians, and offered the Syrian Government our support in achieving this. We continue to press the Syrian Government on the need to improve their response to sectarian violence, protect human rights and hold those responsible to account.