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Parliament TV
UK News

MP for freedom of religion has Qur'an, Bible and Torah on despatch box when sworn into parliament

by Cara Bentley

The Government's special envoy for freedom of religion and belief asked for three religious texts to be present when he pledged allegiance to God and to the Queen. 

This week, all 650 MPs were sworn into parliament, with each having to choose whether to swear on a religious text or simply affirm their commitment to the Crown and law. 

The choices are: the King James Bible, the New Testament, the Torah, the Qur'an, the Bhagavad Gita (Hindu text) or the Dhammapada (Buddhist text). 

Rehman Chishti, the Government's special envoy for freedom of religion and belief, took his oath on the Qur'an but had the Bible and Jewish Torah on the despatch box nearby, to show his 'respect for all faiths.'

The returning MP for Gillingham and Rainham wrote on Twitter: "Today I was sworn in for the 4th time as MP for Gillingham & Rainham. As a Muslim I took my oath on the Koran. As PM Special Envoy Religious Freedom or Belief, I asked for the Torah & the Bible to be placed on the Despatch Box at the same time for my respect for all faiths."

 

 

 

In 2017, 378 MPs chose to swear an oath of allegiance on the King James Bible (KJV) and thirteen on the New Testament. 

Some of the new MPs who swore on the KJV this time included Florence Eshalomi, Joy Morrissey and Munira Wilson. 

Rosie Duffield and Caroline Ansell also swore on the Bible, with Ellie Reeves, Kemi Badenoch and Stella Creasy all taking their oath while carrying young babies in a sling. 

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