October 27 was International Religious Freedom Day—an annual event promoting and protecting religious freedom globally. On this occasion, Lord Tariq Mahmood Ahmad, UK Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the United Nations at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office recorded a video message on the importance of this human right.
Two days earlier, he also addressed the UK All Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief at a meeting launching the group’s report, Article 18: From Rhetoric to Reality. The report covers actions the UK Government should take to ensure full implementation of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.”
Lord Ahmad has served his government in an impressive list of appointments, including Minister of Aviation and Trade and Minister for Countering Extremism. But on Religious Freedom Day, he turned his attention to the rights of all people to worship in the faiths of their own choice.
After expressing his appreciation for the work done this year by the All Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief, he raised the subject of Thomas Helwys, the 17th-century reformer known as the “Father of Religious Freedom.”
“Helwys did not just defend his own religious group,” said Lord Ahmad. “He also defended the rights of others to practice their religion… His experience is a reminder that religious persecution in its different forms has a long history… We all know that it continues to this day… However, it is my personal view that this knowledge should in fact galvanize us to be even more determined and activist in defending and protecting the right to freedom of religion or belief in the 21st century.”
Lord Ahmad specifically pinpointed the need to hold ISIS accountable for its members’ murderous violations of religious freedom in Syria and Iraq through a UN resolution that will send investigative teams to gather evidence of ISIS crimes in those nations. “The UK has contributed one million pounds to get this team up and running,” he added.
Lord Ahmad also revealed the diplomatic efforts underway now in religious persecution trouble spots like Bangladesh, where the Ahmadi community suffers, and Russia, where the Jehovah’s Witnesses faithful have been banned as “extremists.”
“As Minister for Human Rights, and as a man of faith” concluded Lord Ahmad, “I give my personal commitment to work tirelessly to promote and defend freedom of religion or belief for everyone, everywhere.”
