Theresa Villiers, MP for Chipping Barnet, has written to Foreign Secretary, Phillip Hammond, and International Development Secretary, Justine Greening, to highlight the grave situation faced by Christians in Iraq and to urge the Government to take action to assist them by speeding up the provision of humanitarian aid.
Theresa Villiers said: "It is a great concern that so many Christians around the world face persecution and discrimination. A number of my constituents have contacted me about the plight of Christians in Iraq. The situation has become even worse with the capture of Mosul and the Nineveh Plain by ISIS/ISIL/IS forces."
"The UK Government promotes respect for religious freedom around the world and we also have one of the largest aid budgets. I am writing to Phillip Hammond and Justine Greening to urge them to give priority to supporting the groups in Iraq who are under attack from ISIS. I welcome the work that is already underway with aid drops from RAF aircraft."
"I will continue to speak up for religious freedom and the right of Christians around the world to express their faith without fear of persecution."