§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received concerning the persecution of House Church leaders in China. [122234]
§ Mr. BattleWe follow the situation concerning the House Church Christian leaders in China closely. The treatment of Li Dexian, who has been detained on a number of occasions, most recently on 11 April, is a particular concern. We raised his case during the fourth round of the UK/China Human Rights Dialogue in Beijing in February, and I have also raised this case more recently with the Chinese Ambassador. We also pressed the Chinese authorities to facilitate the freedom of religious practice in line with the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which China signed in October 1998. We will continue to press our concerns with the Chinese authorities at every appropriate opportunity including future rounds of the UK and EU Human Rights Dialogues