The Prime Minister’s Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion and Belief has resigned in protest at the government’s Brexit policy.
Rehman Chishti submitted his resignation on Monday over the Internal Market Bill, which critics say breaks international law.
He said on Twitter: “I’ve written to the PM resigning as PM’s special envoy on FoRB. I can’t support Internal Market Bill in its current form, which unilaterally breaks UK’s legal commitments. As an MP for 10yrs and former barrister, values of respecting rule of law and honouring one’s word are dear to me.”
Mr Chishti, a Muslim, had been special envoy for just over a year, although he had been campaigning for freedom for Asia Bibi several years before taking up the role.
In March, Chishti wrote in the Catholic Herald about why he planned to run the Kent Spring Marathon in support of Aid to the Church in Need.
“I believe the persecution of Christians must be eradicated,” he wrote. “As an MP in a community with a rich diversity of religious communities, I believe passionately in the need to reach out to people of other faiths.”
“The freedom to think for ourselves about the meaning of existence, to follow our beliefs and to develop our conscience, is what makes us human,” he added.
“To be denied that is cruel. Britain must stand against those who oppress, persecute and abuse those who follow the “wrong” religion or belief.”
