Former Labour minister Fiona Mactaggart was speaking in the House of Commons when she called for 'Christian leaders to do more to educate those who come to worship on a Sunday who don't know that others are denied that right'.
She was responding to Conservative Fiona Bruce who told MPs that Christians in Iran are facing lashings, torture and severe prison sentences because of their beliefs.
Ms Mactaggart said: "It seems to me that the right to your faith, to freedom of religion is a fundamental human right and I'm concerned that within the Christian faith, Christian leaders need to do more to educate those who come to worship on a Sunday who don't know that others are denied that right."
The Church of England's representative in the Commons, Caroline Spelman, replied: "I think you make a very important point and I think it's important for people of all faith to encourage one another in a spirit of tolerance, and I merely mention that (Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmed al-Tayeb) made the point that the message of Islam and Christianity is enough to build the bridge of continuous understanding.
"That is what he came and said in this place."
Elsewhere during the same debate Ms Spelman pledged support for churches who face falling into disrepair.
Asked by the DUP's Jim Shannon what the government was doing to help Christians arrested abroad for their faith the minister replied the Church would work closely with Foreign Office to put pressure on offending countries.
