First, a theme I have spoken about regularly over the years is that of 'reciprocity'; that is to say, freedom that we accord to other faiths in the West and in this country should be reciprocated by other lands. As we know, there is amazing freedom in the West and in our own country for those of minority faiths to worship, build mosques and temples. This is contrasted with the complete inability of churches to build, repair and worship in certain Islamic countries, plus the restrictions on Christian evangelism in some Indian States.

In my encounter with Islam I have found that Muslim leaders like the formidable and, alas, late Sheikh Zaki Bedawi often agreed with me concerning the need for greater tolerance, understanding, and commitment to live with differences. Time and again I have heard the Surah quoted from the Qu'ran: 'Let there be no compulsion in religion'. I am indeed impressed by the understanding of many Muslims that the People of the Book have much in common, and by historical periods of harmony among Muslims, Jews and Christians in the Middle East. But I have to say that where reciprocity is lacking, then there is indeed compulsion in religion. Under these circumstances, the evidence itself contradicts claims that Islam guarantees 'freedom'.

However, we Christians have to ask of ourselves as well as of people of other faiths if reciprocity is indeed an element that we are all willing to cultivate? Are we seeking to offer the same rights and privileges to another faith that we expect for our own? In my opinion this does not weaken our faith or blunt our commitment to evangelise. Generosity of spirit is not in opposition to committed faith.

This issue has become an urgent one throughout the world. Minority Muslim groups in the West naturally cry out for the right as citizens to practice their faith freely, to build their mosques and to bring up their children according to the tenets of Islam. And the generosity of our nation has accorded them these rights. But when pleas reach my desk from minority Christian groups in many parts of the world asking that they should be able to enjoy those freedoms too I am saddened by the lack of generosity that Muslim lands give people of other faiths.

And with respect but also with sadness I have to say that this reciprocity is not emphasised enough by church leaders in interfaith talks and dialogue. We should demand it and we should expect our political leaders to be aware of the inequality that exists between the nations on religious liberty.

Second, we must become more outspoken concerning the plight of Christians abroad. I was struck when the interview of Sheikh Dr Muhammad al-Hussaini, a lecturer in Islamic Studies at Leo Beck Rabbincial College, with Premier Radio was reported to me. Sheikh Muhammed al- Hussaini said that while Muslims are hypersensitive to any ill-treatment of Muslims anywhere, they remain silent about the persecution of Christians in their midst. They know that the churches in the West will barely utter a whimper - as this issue is not sufficiently important to them. He called on the church to be a voice for persecuted minorities which he claims would speak 'into the heart of the Muslim community'. It is extraordinary that a Muslim leader should be the one advising us to do something that should be instinctive!

The example of Paul urging churches elsewhere to give aid to the church in Jerusalem is surely an early example of a specific concern for our Christian brothers and sisters elsewhere. Similarly, there are easily available ecclesiologies and images of the church - as a Body, as Communion, as Vine, which help us to understand that we must have a particular concern for the suffering church. Sadly, it seems that our interpretation of the Body of Christ falls far short of the Muslim doctrine of 'Umma', the gathered people of Islam.

Thirdly and related to this matter should be getting the plight of minority Christians on to our Church agendas and overcoming the ignorance and apathy that is sadly present in our congregations. The work of Caroline Cox, David Alton and others in Parliament is so necessary and admirable. I link their names with Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali; alas, no longer in Parliament. We miss his clear voice and outspoken leadership and we pray that other bishops will emerge from the shadows to provide a prophetic voice to our nation.

Fourthly and lastly, as we are holding this Annual meeting in Parliament, perhaps we should prevail upon politicians to speak up for Christian minorities and to be less inarticulate about voicing their own beliefs. Only recently I was listening to the radio and heard Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu say that his two major concerns for Israel are that it remains a Jewish State and it had a binding obligation to democracy. I simply cannot imagine any Prime Minister of England, saying that his major concern is that Britain remains a Christian nation! And that reticence is a scandal and a disgrace.

Let me return to where I started with that novel by Henning Mankell who saw so clearly in the dark days of the Cold War that, affluence to consume what you liked, and freedom to practice any ideology you wished, are hollow values if they do not enhance the human spirit and lead to nobility of character. We know that the Christian faith changes lives for the better, and it would be cowardice on our part if we fail to speak out on behalf of those who in alien cultures have the courage to stand up for what they believe. It is time to stand with them and to shoulder the burden with them. Surely that is our Christian duty.