August 22nd – the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief marked by a webinar organised by the Coalition for Genocide Response. In May 2019, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution establishing the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief to be marked on 22 August. In recent years, violence based on religion or belief is an ever-growing problem surpassing the threshold of the legal definition of crimes against humanity, war crimes and even genocide. Speakers will discuss some of the recent most egregious atrocities based on religion or belief and consider the response which is needed.

August 22nd – the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief marked by a webinar organised by the Coalition for Genocide Response. In May 2019, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution establishing the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief to be marked on 22 August. In recent years, violence based on religion or belief is an ever-growing problem surpassing the threshold of the legal definition of crimes against humanity, war crimes and even genocide. Speakers will discuss some of the recent most egregious atrocities based on religion or belief and consider the response which is needed.

    David Alton explains the background to the webinar Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6QACc8s1zM&feature=youtu.be...

The US Knights of Columbus are to Report on Christian Persecution in Nigeria – following 60,000 Killings Over Last 20 Years. Meanwhile, ominously, following his brave radio interview Dr Obadiah Mailafia  has been “invited” to the headquarters of Nigeria’s Department of State Services while a coalition of parties has begun legal proceedings aimed at bringing about the removal of Nigeria’s armed service chiefs due to the critical, comprehensive and continuing deterioration in the security situation.

The US Knights of Columbus are to Report on Christian Persecution in Nigeria – following 60,000 Killings Over Last 20 Years. Meanwhile, ominously, following a brave radio interview Dr Obadiah Mailafia  has been "invited" to the headquarters of Nigeria's Department of...

In an interview with the former Deputy Governor of the Nigerian Central Bank, Dr Obadiah Mailafia. He calls those peddling the herder-farmer narrative “accessories to genocide” – He condemns the recent statement by the presidency regarding the causes of the violence and the government’s continued inaction. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s President Buhari fails to liberate Leah Sharibu.

In an interview with the former Deputy Governor of the Nigerian Central Bank, Dr Obadiah Mailafia. He calls those peddling the herder-farmer narrative "accessories to genocide" - He condemns the recent statement by the...

BBC brings the story of a detained – now disappeared – Uighur Muslim to the world – Merdan Ghappar says”Everyone was wearing a so-called ‘four-piece-suit’, a black head sack, handcuffs, leg shackles and an iron chain connecting the cuffs to the shackles……..He shouted fiercely at me, saying ‘If you remove your hood again, I will beat you to death’. And after that I dared not to talk.” Rowan Williams and Archbishop Angaelos, with many other Faith Leaders, speak out about Uighur persecution.

BBC brings the story of a detained - now disappeared - Uighur Muslim to the world - Merdan Ghappar explains that he was first kept in a police jail in Kucha: "I saw 50 to 60 people detained in a small room no bigger than 50 square metres, men on the right, women on...

Yesterday, March 2nd, was the ninth anniversary of the assassination of Pakistan’s Minister for Minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti. To mark his murder, and the failure to bring anyone to justice, Parliamentarians from both houses of the British Parliament, along with Christians and Muslims or Pakistan origin, met at Westminster under the auspices of the All- Party Group for Pakistani minorities. Tributes were paid to his memory and with the murder of Saleem Masih the continuing persecution of Minorities was Exposed.

Yesterday, March 2nd, was the ninth anniversary of the assassination of Pakistan’s Minister for Minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti. To mark his murder, and the failure to bring anyone to justice, Parliamentarians from both houses of the British Parliament, along with Christians and Muslims or Pakistan origin, met at Westminster under the auspices of the All- Party Group for Pakistani minorities. Tributes were paid to his memory and with the murder of Saleem Masih the continuing persecution of Minorities was Exposed.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABOIQfhyh1g Yesterday, March 2nd, was the ninth anniversary of the assassination of Pakistan’s Minister for Minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti. To mark his murder, and...

For 2020 – Make a New Year’s Resolution To Work For The Release Of Pastor Wang Yi -who, since the massacre in Tiananmen Square – has been a consistent voice for liberty, democracy, and freedom – and who has been given a 9 year prison sentence in China; Also see the NEW YEAR OPEN LETTER from 40 Parliamentarians and Dignitaries, from 18 Countries, Calling on Carrie Lam to Stop Police Brutality in Hong Kong; And read about the Lithuanian Foreign Minister who, following the desecration of memorials to pro democracy campaigners, who have died in Hong Kong, says such “shameful, disgraceful acts of vandalism…can’t and won’t be tolerated.”  This follows the desecration of over 40 Uighur cemeteries in Western China. In 2020 campaign to end the dishonouring of the dead and the dishonouring of the living.

For 2020 – Make a New Year’s Resolution To Work For The Release Of Pastor Wang Yi -who, since the massacre in Tiananmen Square – has been a consistent voice for liberty, democracy, and freedom – and who has been given a 9 year prison sentence in China; Also see the NEW YEAR OPEN LETTER from 40 Parliamentarians and Dignitaries, from 18 Countries, Calling on Carrie Lam to Stop Police Brutality in Hong Kong; And read about the Lithuanian Foreign Minister who, following the desecration of memorials to pro democracy campaigners, who have died in Hong Kong, says such “shameful, disgraceful acts of vandalism…can’t and won’t be tolerated.”  This follows the desecration of over 40 Uighur cemeteries in Western China. In 2020 campaign to end the dishonouring of the dead and the dishonouring of the living.

  For 2020 - Make a New Year's Resolution To Work For The Release Of Pastor Wang Yi - who, since the massacre in Tiananmen Square - has been a consistent voice for liberty, democracy, and freedom - and who has been given a 9 year prison sentence in China. Also...

Christmas in Pakistan: shocking story of Christian woman while Dawn details the case of an academic from Pakistan, Junaid Hafeez, who has been sentenced to death on blasphemy charges by a Court in Multan. He has already spent 6 years in solitary confinement, which in human rights law must amount to torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment contrary to the provisions of Article 7 of the ICCPR (to which Pakistan is a State Party). Multan is the city where Shagufta Kauser, once again  spent Christmas – in the cell previously occupied by Asia Bibi – and separated from her disabled husband, Shafqat Emmanuel. He is paralysed from the chest down and is also incarcerated on blasphemy charges, sentenced to death, and separated from their four children, aged between 9 and 15. Also, the case of a 14 years old Christian girl Huma, who was kidnapped, forcibly converted and married to her abductor, in Karachi. And this shocking story: “They Forced Me Down, All I Did Was Pray”: the account of a Pakistani Christian rape survivor

In his Christmas message, the Prime Minister reminded us that millions of people would be unable to freely celebrate Christmas. These bleak stories from Pakistan – a Commonwealth country - is a graphic illustration of how bad it can get for vulnerable people whose...

Today Is Red Wednesday: Stand Up for people persecuted for daring to be different – persecuted for their beliefs or religion by regimes and ideologies that refused to accept Article 18 of the Universal declaration of Human Rights. The Foreign Office, Lambeth Palace and Westminster Cathedral among those to light up red.

Today is Red Wednesday – when we think about the millions around the world who are persecuted because of their religion or belief. Today, spare a thought for the Uighur Muslims incarcerated in China, for...

Lord David Alton

For 18 years David Alton was a Member of the House of Commons and today he is an Independent Crossbench Life Peer in the UK House of Lords.

About David

Social Media

Site Search

Recent Posts

For the Uyghurs, Genocide is a word which dares not speak its name. For the sake of women like Rahima Mahmut, Gulzira Auelkhan, Sayragul Sauytbay, and Ruqiye Perhat – whose heart-breaking, shocking, stories are recorded here – it’s time that the crime of genocide was given definition in the UK. On January 19th Parliament can use its voice and speak that name – insisting on justice for victims of Genocide and refusing to make tawdry trade deals with those responsible for the crime above all crimes.

For the Uyghurs, Genocide is a word which dares not speak its name. For the sake of women like Rahima Mahmut, Gulzira Auelkhan, Sayragul Sauytbay, and Ruqiye Perhat – whose heart-breaking, shocking, stories are recorded here – it’s time that the crime of genocide was given definition in the UK. On January 19th Parliament can use its voice and speak that name – insisting on justice for victims of Genocide and refusing to make tawdry trade deals with those responsible for the crime above all crimes.

For the Uyghurs Genocide is a word which dares not speak its name ================================================= Extract: What word comes into your mind when you hear evidence of  a State  complicit in the destruction of a people’s identity; complicit in...

Stop Organ Harvesting In China

Stop Organ Harvesting In China

As the Medicines and Medical Devices Bill Bill comes to be discussed in Parliament, at its Report Stage in the House of Lords these speeches on forced organ harvesting were made by members from all sides of the House. Second Reading: ...

Christmas 2020 – Listen to T.S.Eliot and Hugh Laurie reading “Journey of the Magi”, Read J.R.R.Tolkien’s, Noel, and G.K.Chesterton’s “The House of Christmas” and Liverpool poet, Stewart Henderson’s ,new 2020 Christmas poem, What did you get for Christmas?

Christmas 2020 – Listen to T.S.Eliot and Hugh Laurie reading “Journey of the Magi”, Read J.R.R.Tolkien’s, Noel, and G.K.Chesterton’s “The House of Christmas” and Liverpool poet, Stewart Henderson’s ,new 2020 Christmas poem, What did you get for Christmas?

Christmas 2020 - Listen to T.S.Eliot and Hugh Laurie reading "Journey of the Magi", Read J.R.R.Tolkien's, Noel, and G.K.Chesterton's "The House of Christmas" and Liverpool poet, Stewart Henderson's ,new 2020 Christmas poem, What did you get for Christmas? The...

The Place In Which We Work

The Place In Which We Work

The Houses of Parliament We all see the place where we work very differently. At the end of another very long day, at 8.30 pm tonight, I was alone in the House of Lords cafeteria - where the wonderful (mainly Polish) staff were living out Napoleon‘s maxim that armies...

The World Must Not Forget Andy Li And The Hong Kong 12

The World Must Not Forget Andy Li And The Hong Kong 12

With Andy Li During The Hong Kong Elections In the U.K. Parliament I have again asked the U.K. Government what information they have on the wellbeing of the 12 young prodemocracy activists from Hong Kong, arrested by China. I asked whether the U.K. has asked China to...

Chris Patten says “We cannot forget that the Chinese Communist party hates open societies and wishes to bury them. In looking for ways in which we can share to our mutual benefit a peaceful planet with China we cannot forget in liberal democracies the importance of standing up for ourselves and for what we believe in.”

https://www.ft.com/content/29c9774d-ae89-483f-8f38-848966c8844f Chris Patten “We cannot forget that the Chinese Communist party hates open societies and wishes to bury them. In looking for ways in which we can share to our mutual benefit a peaceful planet with China...

Protecting, Respecting and Valuing Life – from it’s very beginning. (Lord) Yehudi Menuhin, the renowned violinist once said he first learned his love of music in his mother’s womb. His mother was once told, “Madam, your womb is a veritable conservatoire.”

Protecting, Respecting and Valuing Life – from it’s very beginning. (Lord) Yehudi Menuhin, the renowned violinist once said he first learned his love of music in his mother’s womb. His mother was once told, “Madam, your womb is a veritable conservatoire.”

Yehudi Menuhin - Lord Menuhin Monday January 25th 2021Lord Alton of Liverpool (CB) My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Stroud, for raising this crucial issue. There are four amendments in this group, and I would like to speak to Amendments 15 and 172. Amendment...

UK Government says it is concerned by reports that “Eritrean troops have entered Ethiopian refugee camps in Tigray and forced a number of refugees to return to Eritrea” and responds to reports of a mass killing at the Mariam of Zion church in Aksum, Ethiopia. Meanwhile, (UNHCR) say that more than 58,000 refugees have fled into neighbouring countries to escape the conflict

UK Government says it is concerned by reports that “Eritrean troops have entered Ethiopian refugee camps in Tigray and forced a number of refugees to return to Eritrea” and responds to reports of a mass killing at the Mariam of Zion church in Aksum, Ethiopia. Meanwhile, (UNHCR) say that more than 58,000 refugees have fled into neighbouring countries to escape the conflict

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL11957): Question:To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to end the forced repatriation...