Asked by: Lord Beecham (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of China about the mistreatment of Uighurs.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
We remain committed to promoting human rights in Xinjiang, and our continued multilateral and bilateral activity demonstrates this. The Foreign Secretary has personally raised our serious concerns with his Chinese counterpart on a number of occasions this year. The UK has also taken a leading international role in holding China to account for its gross human rights abuses in Xinjiang and Hong Kong. On 6 October, the UK and 38 other countries joined a statement at the UN Third Committee in New York expressing deep concern at the situation in Xinjiang and Hong Kong, including the mass detention of Uyghurs in political re-education camps. This growing international pressure on China reflects UK diplomatic leadership, including the personal involvement of the Foreign Secretary in raising the issue with a wide range of partners.
Asked by: Lord Beecham (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made enquiries of, or representations to, the government of Syria in relation to its claim that the passport of Zaina Erhaim produced at Heathrow on her arrival in the UK had been stolen.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We have made no enquiries of, or representations to, the Syrian regime on this matter. The UK Government has no contact with the Asad regime due to the atrocities it has committed against the Syrian people.
Asked by: Lord Beecham (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Saudi Arabia in relation to the death sentence imposed on Abdullah ah-Zaher; and whether they will consider taking action in the event of representations on this, and similar cases, going unheeded.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The British Government is very concerned about the case of Abdullah al-Zaher. We have raised these cases at a senior level in the Government of Saudi Arabia. The UK opposes the death penalty in all circumstances and in every country, especially in cases which do not meet the minimum standards defined by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. This includes the execution of a minor and the use of the death penalty for a crime which is not deemed “the most serious”. We take every opportunity to make the Saudi authorities aware of our views.
Asked by: Lord Beecham (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Saudi Arabia concerning the death sentence imposed on the Palestinian poet Ashraf Fayadh.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The British Government is aware of, and concerned about, the case of Mr Ashraf Fayadh. We oppose the death penalty in all circumstances and in every country, especially in cases which include the use of the death penalty for a crime which isn’t deemed “the most serious”. We take every opportunity to make the Saudi Arabian authorities aware of our views.
The Government is a strong supporter of freedom of expression around the world. We believe that people must be allowed to discuss and debate issues freely, challenge their governments peacefully; exercise the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and speak out against violations of human rights, wherever they occur.
Asked by: Lord Beecham (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the Palestinian Authority in the light of the recent Amnesty International report on the conduct of Hamas in Gaza; and what response they have received, if any.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
While we have not raised this issue with the Palestinian Authority (PA), we do raise issues related to Hamas conduct in Gaza with the PA on an ongoing basis. Since the formation of the interim technocratic government, we have supported Prime Minister Hamdallah’s efforts to return the PA to effective control of the Gaza Strip, which would allow the PA to take action to address such reports.