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Written Question
Mexico: Christianity
Tuesday 26th April 2022

Asked by: Cat Smith (Labour - Lancaster and Fleetwood)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has made representations to her Mexican counterpart on the situation for Protestant Christian families in El Encanto village, Las Margaritas Municipality, Chiapas, who have been denied access to water, electricity and sewerage services for refusing to renounce their religion.

Answered by Vicky Ford

We are aware of the reports of protestant families in El Encanto village being denied access to services due to their religious beliefs. We raised the issue of freedom of religion or belief and the situation in Chiapas with the Mexican authorities. The UK is committed to defending freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all and promoting respect between different religious and non-religious communities. We continue to engage regularly with Mexican authorities at all levels to discuss and support a broad human rights agenda in Mexico. I discussed human rights with the Mexican minister for Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights on 2 March.


Written Question
Mexico: Religious Freedom
Monday 23rd November 2020

Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make representations to the Mexican Government on behalf of the protestant families in La Mesa Limantitla who have been pressured by local authorities to renounce their faith and who are now being threatened with expulsion from the community as a result of their religious beliefs.

Answered by Wendy Morton

We are aware of the reports of protestant families in La Mesa Limantitla being threatened with expulsion from the community as a result of their religious beliefs. We raised this with the Mexican authorities on 13 November. The UK Government continues to engage regularly with the Mexican authorities at ministerial, official, and state level to discuss human rights, including freedom of religion or belief, and to support a broad human rights agenda in Mexico.

The Mexican Constitution guarantees freedom of religion or belief for all its citizens. States as well as federal officials have responsibility for ensuring non-discrimination, and we welcome the 2019 launch of the National Strategy for the Promotion of Respect and Tolerance of Religious Diversity. The overall assessment by the Mexican Government, the local UN Human Rights office, and local civil society organisations is that while there are some cases of individuals being targeted because of their religion or beliefs, people are more often targeted for their work and activities in defence of human rights, or because of religious intolerance between faith groups in Mexico.


Written Question
Mexico: Protestantism
Tuesday 29th September 2020

Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll and Bute)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he has made to his Mexican counterpart on the case of six Protestant Christian families in El Encanto village, Las Margaritas Municipality, Chiapas who had their electricity cut off on 27 July because they refused to sign an agreement which obliged them to participate in religious activities associated with the Catholic religion.

Answered by Wendy Morton

We are aware of reports of the removal of some Mexican Protestants' access to water, electricity, and other basic services in Mexico. The British Embassy in Mexico City has raised this specific case with the Mexican authorities, who have agreed to look into it. The UK Government continues to engage regularly with Mexican authorities at ministerial, official, and state level to discuss human rights, including Freedom of Religion or Belief, and to support a broad human rights agenda in Mexico.


Written Question
Mexico: Freedom of Religion
Monday 28th September 2020

Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll and Bute)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of freedom of religion or belief in Mexico.

Answered by Wendy Morton

The Mexican Constitution guarantees freedom of religion or belief for all its citizens. States as well as federal officials have responsibility for ensuring non-discrimination, and we welcome the 2019 launch of the National Strategy for the Promotion of Respect and Tolerance of Religious Diversity. The assessment by the Mexican Government, the local UN Human Rights office, and local civil society organisations is that while there are some cases of individuals being targeted because of their religion or beliefs, people are more often targeted for their work and activities in defence of human rights or because of religious intolerance between faith groups in Mexico.

The UK Government continues to engage regularly with Mexican authorities at ministerial, official, and state level to discuss human rights, including freedom of religion or belief, and to support a broad human rights agenda in Mexico. Most recently, on 28 July, Lord Ahmad, the Minister for human rights, discussed human rights with his Mexican counterpart.


Written Question
Mexico: Freedom of Religion
Monday 21st September 2020

Asked by: Fiona Bruce (Conservative - Congleton)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the level of freedom of religion or belief in Mexico.

Answered by Wendy Morton

The Mexican Constitution guarantees freedom of religion or belief for all its citizens. States as well as federal officials have responsibility for ensuring non-discrimination, and we welcome the 2019 launch of the National Strategy for the Promotion of Respect and Tolerance of Religious Diversity. The assessment by the Mexican Government, the local UN Human Rights office, and local civil society organisations is that while there are some cases of individuals being targeted because of their religion or beliefs, people are more often targeted for their work and activities in defence of human rights or because of religious intolerance between faith groups in Mexico.

The UK Government continues to engage regularly with Mexican authorities at ministerial, official, and state level to discuss human rights, including Freedom of Religion or Belief, and to support a broad human rights agenda in Mexico. On 28 July, Lord Ahmad, the Minister for human rights, discussed human rights with his Mexican counterpart.


Written Question
Mexico: Protestantism
Monday 21st September 2020

Asked by: Fiona Bruce (Conservative - Congleton)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policy on freedom of religion or belief of the case of six Protestant Christian families in El Encanto village, Las Margaritas Municipality, Chiapas Mexico, who had their electricity cut off on 27 July 2020 because they refused to sign an agreement which obliged them to participate in religious activities associated with the Catholic religion and to help with the upkeep of the local Catholic church building.

Answered by Wendy Morton

We are aware of reports of the removal of some Mexican Protestants' access to water, electricity, and other basic services in Mexico, and have raised this specific case with the Mexican authorities. The overall assessment by the Mexican Government, the local UN Human Rights office, and local civil society organisations is that, while there are some cases of individuals being targeted because of their religion or beliefs, people are more often targeted for their work and activities in defence of human rights or because of religious intolerance between faith groups in Mexico. We will continue to raise our concerns when we become aware of such cases. The UK Government continues to engage regularly with Mexican authorities at ministerial, official, and state level to discuss human rights, including Freedom of Religion or Belief, and to support a broad human rights agenda in Mexico.


Written Question
Mexico: Religious Freedom
Monday 8th June 2020

Asked by: George Howarth (Labour - Knowsley)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his Mexican counterpart on freedom of religion and belief in that country.

Answered by Wendy Morton

The UK Government continues to engage regularly with Mexican authorities at ministerial, official, and state levels to discuss human rights, including Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), and to support a broad human rights agenda in Mexico. Most recently, I discussed human rights with the Mexican Deputy Foreign Minister when he visited London on 9 March. During the Foreign Secretary's visit to Mexico in August 2019, he raised human rights with his counterpart, Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard, who expressed his support for working with the UK both bilaterally and multilaterally to protect human rights. Additionally, Baroness Williams raised FoRB with the Mexican Interior Minister in September 2019.


Written Question
Mexico: Religious Freedom
Tuesday 26th May 2020

Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll and Bute)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the level of freedom of religion or belief in Mexico.

Answered by Wendy Morton

While civil society organisations continue to report cases of Freedom of Religion or Belief violations in Mexico, assessment by the Mexican Government, the local UN Human Rights office, and local civil society organisations is that while there are cases of individuals being targeted because of their religion or beliefs, people are more often targeted for their work and activities in defence of human rights or because of religious intolerance between faiths. At the UN Universal Periodic Review session in November 2018, the UK made recommendations regarding accountability for human rights violations, and addressing impunity for violence against human rights defenders.

The UK Government continues to engage regularly with Mexican authorities at ministerial, official, and state levels to discuss human rights, including Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), and to support a broad human rights agenda in Mexico. Most recently, I discussed human rights with the Mexican Deputy Foreign Minister when he visited London on 9 March.


Written Question
Mexico: Protestantism
Tuesday 26th May 2020

Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll and Bute)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Mexican Government on the reported removal of some Mexican protestants’ access to water, electricity and other basic services.

Answered by Wendy Morton

We are aware of reports of removal of some Mexican Protestants' access to water, electricity and other basic services in Mexico. The assessment by the Mexican Government, the local UN Human Rights office, and local civil society organisations is that while there are cases of individuals being targeted because of their religion or beliefs, people are more often targeted for their work and activities in defence of human rights or because of religious intolerance between faiths. We will continue to raise our concerns when we become aware of such cases.

As I referenced in my response to PQ 47313, the UK Government continues to engage regularly with Mexican authorities at ministerial, official, and state levels to discuss human rights, including Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), and to support a broad human rights agenda in Mexico. Most recently, I discussed human rights with the Mexican Deputy Foreign Minister when he visited London on 9 March. During the Foreign Secretary's visit to Mexico in August 2019, he raised human rights with his counterpart, Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard, who expressed his support for working with the UK both bilaterally and multilaterally to protect human rights. Additionally, Baroness Williams raised FoRB with the Mexican Interior Minister in September 2019.


Written Question
Mexico: Religious Freedom
Friday 15th May 2020

Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the kidnapping of Pastor Aarón Méndez Ruiz and Alfredo Castillo de Luna by a criminal group in Mexico in August 2019 and reports that they have been denied access to water, electricity and other basic services in order to force them to renounce their faith; and what assessment they have made of the level of violence against religious leaders in Mexico since 1 September 2019.

Answered by Baroness Sugg

The British Embassy in Mexico City is aware of, and monitoring the cases of Pastor Aarón Méndez Ruiz and Alfredo Castillo de Luna. The UK Government continues to engage regularly with Mexican authorities at ministerial, official, and state levels to discuss human rights, including Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), and to support a broad human rights agenda in Mexico. Most recently, the Minister for the Americas and Minister for Asia discussed human rights with the Mexican Deputy Foreign Minister when he visited London on 9 March. During the Foreign Secretary's visit to Mexico in August 2019, he raised human rights with his counterpart, Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard, who expressed his support for working with the UK both bilaterally and multilaterally to protect human rights. Additionally, Baroness Williams raised FoRB with the Mexican Interior Minister in September 2019.

While civil society organisations continue to report cases of FoRB violations in Mexico, assessment by the Mexican Government, the local UN Human Rights office, and local civil society organisations is that while there are cases of individuals being targeted because of their religion or beliefs, people are more often targeted for their work and activities in defence of human rights. At the UN Universal Periodic Review session in November 2018, the UK made recommendations regarding accountability for human rights violations, and addressing impunity for violence against human rights defenders.