Ann Widdecombe, the former long-standing Conservative MP, is expected to criticise the government’s policy on cutting aid to countries which have laws against homosexuality whilst failing to take a stand against countries which persecute Christians.
Miss Widdecombe will be addressing the annual conference of ‘Aid to the Church in Need’, and her speech comes in the light of Andrew Mitchell’s decision, as International Development Secretary, to slash the UK’s aid to Malawi after two homosexual men were given 14 years hard labour.
She is anticipated to say: “David Cameron’s government have threatened to cut the overseas aid budget for countries which persecute homosexuals.
“Fair enough. But what about Christians? When do we qualify for such protection or don’t we?”
The former minister will argue that a country’s record on religious freedom should also be considered when it comes to deciding how Britain’s overseas aid budget should be allotted.
A number of current situations involving the persecution of Christians support Miss Widdecombe’s case.
Last week, around 25 Coptic Christians were killed in demonstrations in Cairo and another 329 injured as the Egyptian army took a heavy handed approach to dispersing a demonstration.
Asia Bibi, a Pakistani Christian mother of five who was convicted under the country’s controversial blasphemy law last year, is still incarcerated and faces execution.
In Iran, Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani was condemned to death for refusing to recant his Christian beliefs. After international pressure his case has gone to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatolla Ali Khameni and Pastor Nadarkhani awaits his decision.
Concerning representation for persecuted Christians, Miss Widdecombe added: “You stand a better chance of earnest representation if you are a hedgehog – and I speak as a patron of the Hedgehog Protection Society.
“In the last 10 years, how many debates have there been on persecution of Christians, how many Government statements on the subject?”
Aid to the Church in Need released figures recently showing that Christians are the target of 75 per cent of all religious persecution.
Andrea Minichiello Williams, CEO of Christian Concern, said:
“Ann Widdecombe is absolutely right to draw attention to this huge discrepancy in the British government’s approach to international aid.
“105,000 Christians are killed each year because of their beliefs; this government cannot be so soft on international persecution whilst effectively forcing foreign governments to change their moral stance on homosexuality.”
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