To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations his Department has made to the Government of Egypt on the treatment of Coptic Christians in that country. (319652)

The Government condemn all instances of discrimination and persecution of individuals and groups because of their religion or belief. At Egypt's Universal Periodic Review in February 2010 we encouraged further efforts by the Egyptian government and others in authority to reduce and prevent discrimination on the grounds of an individual's religion or belief. We have also raised the shooting dead of seven people outside a church in Naga Hammadi with the Egyptian Government at ministerial level and received assurances of Egypt's commitment to protecting its Christian population. We welcome the Egyptian Government's pursuit and arrest of the perpetrators of the crime.

The protection of human rights, including freedom of religion, is a central component of Egypt's ongoing dialogue with the EU.