§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Azerbaijan Government concerning the threats made by Islamist extremists against Pastor Khalid Babaev, a Seventh Day Adventist pastor in Nakhichevan. [168428]
§ Mr. RammellPromotion of human rights, including freedom of thought, conscience and religion is at the heart of our foreign policy. We condemn instances where individuals are persecuted because of faith or belief, wherever they happen and whatever the religion of the individual or group concerned.
British embassy staff in Baku keep in close contact with human rights NGOs in Azerbaijan and have raised issues of religious persecution with the State Commission for Religious Organisations. In March 2003 the British ambassador to Azerbaijan hosted a series of round table talks with NGOs to discuss current concerns, including issues of religious freedoms.
We have not made any specific representations to the Azeri Government about Pastor Khalid Babaev.