Parliamentarians and human rights groups have written to the Government warning that the situation for religious minorities around the world has "deteriorated" during the Covid-19 crisis. 

The letter, sent to Foreign Office Minister Lord Ahmad, says that new trends "closely related to the Covid-19 pandemic" have emerged in the last few months. 

These include governments "using the pandemic to further repress religious minorities", such as by increasing surveillance, and religious minorities being discriminated against in the provision of food aid and healthcare. 

In some places, religious minorities are being blamed for the spread of Covid-19 and "targeted as a result".  This has been the case in India, where Muslims have been blamed for the pandemic.

In some instances, the discrimination experienced by minorities has been fuelled by online propaganda campaigns "spreading misinformation and inciting violence". 

In China, the letter warns that many Uyghurs have been exposed to Covid-19 after being subjected to forced labour, while in Myanmar, Rohingya Muslims and Kachin Christians displaced by military attacks have been denied access to adequate medical care. 

Other countries of concern include Pakistan, where reports have emerged of Christians and Hindus being denied aid, and Nigeria, where members of the Fulani ethnic group "are taking advantage of Covid-19 lockdowns to intensify attacks on villages, killing or driving out inhabitants, and looting the areas" predominantly inhabited by minorities.

In Iraq, there are fears that ISIS, which waged genocide against Yazidis and Christians, "is once more growing in power and is posing a renewed threat to religious minorities." 

"It is clear from these examples that COVID-19 is adding to the pressures already felt by religious minorities, is making them more vulnerable, and their situation even more challenging," the letter reads. 

"These violations require a comprehensive response that not only assists with the urgent needs of the affected communities but also addresses the pre-existing situation of religious minorities."

Signatories of the letter include Lord Alton, Baroness Cox, the Bishop of Truro, Coptic Orthodox Archbishop Angaelos, Aid to the Church in Need and Christian Solidarity Worldwide. 

They are calling on the Government to create a special budget to assist religious minorities "uniquely affected" by Covid-19. 

They added: "We further call on the UK Government to engage in dialogues with governments of countries where COVID-19-related violations of freedom of religion or belief are occurring and seek their assurances that they will address these violations, including thorough investigations and prosecutions of perpetrators."