Freedom of religion is “the key human right”, Britain’s House of Lords has heard.

During a debate on the question of Britain affording extra emphasis to the issue of religious freedom, peers heard of numerous violations of religious freedom internationally, contravening Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which bestows the right to “freedom of thought, conscience and religion” both in public and private.

Lord Alton of Liverpool, who has been a champion for persecuted Christians and who led the debate, referenced violations of religious belief in numerous countries, including persecution of Christians from “Syria and Iraq, to Sudan, Pakistan, Eritrea, Nigeria, Egypt, Iran, North Korea and many other countries”.

The peer’s words were met with voices of support, among them Baroness Anelay, who condemned “the ongoing assault on freedom of religion”.

“Freedom of religion or belief is not just an optional extra, or nice to have, it is the key human right”, she insisted.

Speaking as Britain’s Prime Minister, David Cameron prepared to unveil new legislation towards counteracting the work of such groups as Islamic State to misuse religion in radicalising Muslims, Baroness Anelay added: “Where freedom of religion is protected, extremist ideologies are much less likely to take root”.

In summing up the debate, Lord Alton urged his fellow peers to use their positions to highlight and combat violations of religious freedom