Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports of recent criminal and terrorist acts targeting members of minority communities in Iraq; and what discussions they have had with the government of Iraq about the protection of Yezidi, Christians, Shabak, Sabean Mandaeans, and other minorities.

​We are aware of credible reports of human rights abuses and violations perpetrated against minority communities in Iraq. The UK condemns all such acts.

We regularly raise the protection needs of minorities with the Government of Iraq and Kurdistan Regional Government regularly. We have made clear, through our Embassy in Baghdad and our Consulate General in Erbil, the importance of protecting civilians and of Iraq meeting its human rights responsibilities, including ensuring the rule of law. We welcome the commitments of Iraqi Prime Minister Abadi to investigate all allegations of human rights abuses and violations, including those committed against minorities, and to hold those responsible to account, including those committed against minorities. We will continue to make clear that we expect the Government of Iraq to act on that commitment.

On 2 and 3 March, I (the Minister for The Commonwealth and UN, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon) met the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Nechirvan Barzani and raised the importance of tolerance and protecting and safeguarding the rights of Christians, Yezidis and other minority groups. The Prime Minister also emphasised this message with Iraqi Prime Minister Abadi during her visit in November.