To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the governments of Qatar and Saudi Arabia, and to the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, regarding the release of Metropolitan Yazigi and Metropolitan Ibrahim, who were kidnapped in Syria on 22 April 2013.

We are very concerned about this kidnapping, which highlights the seriousness of the situation in Syria. The Syrian National Coalition have confirmed that they do not know who is holding the two bishops or where they are being held. They have had no contact with the abductors or the bishops.

Along with prominent religious leaders, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my honourable Friend Mr Burt, has publicly condemned the kidnapping and urged whoever is holding the Bishops to release them immediately. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials are in direct contact with the Greek Orthodox Patriarch's office about this case.