Extracts from Westminster Hall debate on International Freedom of Religion or Belief Day - Oct 25
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Dr Rupa Huq (Ealing Central and Acton) (Lab):The hon. Gentleman is
being generous with his time. Is he aware of another example of
Christian persecution in the middle east: that of the American
Quakers? Although they have an illustrious history of helping
refugees of all faiths in the second world war and of hiding Jewish
children, they are now on a banned list for travel to Israel. Does
that not seem baffling? Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP): I thank the
hon. Lady for bringing that up. I...Request free trial
Dr Rupa Huq (Ealing Central and Acton)
(Lab):The hon. Gentleman is being generous with his time.
Is he aware of another example of Christian persecution in the
middle east: that of the American Quakers? Although they have an
illustrious history of helping refugees of all faiths in the second
world war and of hiding Jewish children, they are now on a banned
list for travel to Israel. Does that not seem baffling?
Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP): I thank the hon. Lady for bringing that up. I was not aware of that one, but we will certainly pursue it through the APPG... John Howell (Henley) (Con): My hon. Friend makes an interesting point. Does he share my enthusiasm for the European Court of Human Rights? Many cases have been brought to it by many different faith groups, and it has stoutly defended their rights. After all, it was born out of the second world war, which had a significant religious element—or an anti-religious element in relation to the Jewish faith.
Jeremy Lefroy (Stafford) (Con): My
hon. Friend makes a vital point. We in this country have
sometimes—especially at this time—been a bit confused about the
difference between the European Court of Justice and the European
Court of Human Rights, so let us make it quite clear. I and
everybody in this room, I am sure, would never want the United
Kingdom to pull out of the ECHR or to resile from our signature
to the European convention on human rights... Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Glasgow South) (SNP):...I will bring my remarks to a close soon, because the Minister is the man we are all here to hear from. First, however, I must mention one religious group who have been persecuted more than any other in history: the Jewish people. They have been hunted from every single corner of the world for hundreds of years. It still happens today, even in this country. For the sake of hon. Members who were not present at our debate on antisemitism earlier this year, let me repeat what I said then. In every city I go to, whether on holiday or on an official visit, I always try to visit the Jewish museum. I love visiting museums in many different cities, but the only museums in which I have to check in my backpack, take off my coat and go through airport-style security are the Jewish museums. It is the same in Paris, Berlin, New York or any other city. Why is that? Why do Jewish schools, even in this country, need security outside them? Why do synagogues around Europe need armed security? Many people think that the persecution of the Jewish people is over, but only a fool would think that. It is a source of great pride that Scotland is, I think, the only country that has never had an antisemitic law on the statute book. Indeed, the declaration of Arbroath, the oldest medieval text in the world, refers to Jews and Gentiles as equals. That is not to say that everything in Scotland was a picnic; of course it was not. There are positive things in our history, but we should never take them for granted. Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East) (Lab): It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr McCabe. I would like to start by thanking the hon. Member for Glasgow South (Stewart Malcolm McDonald), because I was going to begin my speech by mentioning the case of the Jews, as he and many others have done. I know that hon. Members wish to hear from the Minister, but I ask them to bear with me as I sum up for the Opposition. I am reminded of a particular case that is close to my heart; I hope hon. Members will forgive me if they have heard it before. It is the case of Raina Sevilla, a Jewish woman who moved from Switzerland to Paris in 1934 in the belief that France was a safe place for Jews to live. Just six years later, after the fall of Paris to the Nazis, she was asked, along with so many other Jews in Paris, to register and wear the yellow star. Some months later, she was picked up in the middle of the night and taken to the Vel’ d’Hiv, the velodrome in the middle of Paris. In June or July 1942, along with so many others, she was taken from there to Drancy, the makeshift concentration camp on the north-east outskirts of Paris, near the railhead at Bobigny. The next day she was taken to Auschwitz-Birkenau, where she was sent, along with many thousands of other older women and children, to the gas chambers. She was my great-grandmother. That is why this debate matters, and why it means so very much to all of us. I am grateful to the hon. Member for Glasgow South for taking up the case of the Jewish people. I am not a religious man either, but I am Jewish. Every single one of us knows where religious intolerance can end, because we have seen it. History teaches it to us. Every single Member this afternoon has given a brilliant speech telling us why this debate, timed to coincide with the International Freedom of Religion or Belief Day, is so appropriate, so important and so essential to the very essence of our existence as a Parliament in this free country of ours. I pay tribute to my good friend the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon)—I hope that he does not mind me calling him my good friend. We have worked closely together over many years. He gave his thanks to the Government for their support and for the good work done, and for what is still to be done. I know that we will hear from the Minister shortly about how that will be developed. All Governments in this country, of every party, have supported the right that we value so greatly.
The hon. Gentleman talked about forced organ harvesting in China,
as others have done this afternoon, and the Falun Gong, a
religious minority in China who are being persecuted in
astonishingly horrific ways. There are many parallels with what
the Jews have suffered, especially during the second world war.
He mentioned Chinese Muslims, who have been in the news recently.
I have had emails, as I am sure have many other Members, from
constituents who are angry and upset at what they hear in the
media. It is good that our free media is able to report that, but
it is tragic what they have to report and that this is still
going on.... “The persecution of individuals based on their religion or belief remains of profound concern to the United Kingdom. The freedom to practise, change or share one’s faith or belief without discrimination or violent opposition is a fundamental human right, and the UK Government are committed to defending this human right and promoting respect and tolerance between religious communities.”—[Official Report, 17 July 2017; Vol. 627, c. 5P.]..
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