The Government's Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion and Belief will run the London marathon to raise money for persecuted Christians. 

Rehman Chishti, the MP for Gillingham and Rainham, will run the race for Catholic religious freedom charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). 

ACN works on issues of Christian persecution worldwide and raises awareness of their suffering through events such as Red Wednesday, where landmarks light up red for the persecuted church. 

Mr Chishti liaised with the charity when he raised the case of Asia Bibi, who was on death row for blasphemy in Pakistan, in parliament. 

He also resigned as Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party and the Prime Minister's Trade Envoy to Pakistan in November 2018, citing the UK's refusal to grant Asia Bibi sanctuary as one of his reasons. 

Asia Bibi's conviction has since been overturned and she is now in Canada with her family.

Neville Kyrke-Smith, the national director of ACN UK, said: "I am delighted that Mr Chishti will run this year's London Marathon for ACN. Not only is it an opportunity to raise money for our projects supporting persecuted Christians, but it will also raise the profile of a vital issue in need of much more recognition."

The marathon is on Sunday 26th April.