Asked by: Lord Carlile of Berriew (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Iran to cease any destruction or damage of the mass graves of individuals who were forcibly disappeared and executed in 1988 and to ensure that such graves are preserved and protected until independent, forensic investigations can be carried out, as recommended by Amnesty International and Justice for Iran in their report Criminal Cover-up: Iran destroying mass graves of victims of 1988 killings.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The British Government opposes the death penalty in all circumstances and takes any allegations of extrajudicial killings seriously. When a new Special Rapporteur is appointed, we will call on Iran to grant them access so they can investigate human rights concerns reported there, including the 1988 executions and the recent destruction of mass graves. We also raise our human rights concerns directly with the Iranian Government; the Foreign Secretary did so with his Iranian counterpart during his visit to Tehran in December and the Minister for the Middle East and North Africa discussed human rights concerns with his Iranian counterpart in London in February. While at present we have no plans to request an inquiry by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights into the 1988 executions of political prisoners in Iran or the recent destruction of mass graves, we continue to take action with the international community to press for improvements on all human rights issues in Iran, including ending the death penalty and by supporting the work done by the Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Iran.
Asked by: Lord Carlile of Berriew (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Iran (1) about the destruction and damage of mass graves of victims of extrajudicial executions in 1988 and the harassment and persecution of their families, and (2) to encourage it to recognise publicly such mass graves as crime scenes, as called for by Amnesty International and Justice for Iran in their report Criminal Cover-up: Iran destroying mass graves of victims of 1988 killings.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The British Government opposes the death penalty in all circumstances and takes any allegations of extrajudicial killings seriously. When a new Special Rapporteur is appointed, we will call on Iran to grant them access so they can investigate human rights concerns reported there, including the 1988 executions and the recent destruction of mass graves. We also raise our human rights concerns directly with the Iranian Government; the Foreign Secretary did so with his Iranian counterpart during his visit to Tehran in December and the Minister for the Middle East and North Africa discussed human rights concerns with his Iranian counterpart in London in February. While at present we have no plans to request an inquiry by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights into the 1988 executions of political prisoners in Iran or the recent destruction of mass graves, we continue to take action with the international community to press for improvements on all human rights issues in Iran, including ending the death penalty and by supporting the work done by the Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Iran.
Asked by: Lord Carlile of Berriew (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the UN for an investigation to be launched in the concealment, damage and destruction of mass graves in Iran, as recommended by Amnesty International and Justice for Iran in their report Criminal Cover-up: Iran destroying mass graves of victims of 1988 killings.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The British Government opposes the death penalty in all circumstances and takes any allegations of extrajudicial killings seriously. When a new Special Rapporteur is appointed, we will call on Iran to grant them access so they can investigate human rights concerns reported there, including the 1988 executions and the recent destruction of mass graves. We also raise our human rights concerns directly with the Iranian Government; the Foreign Secretary did so with his Iranian counterpart during his visit to Tehran in December and the Minister for the Middle East and North Africa discussed human rights concerns with his Iranian counterpart in London in February. While at present we have no plans to request an inquiry by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights into the 1988 executions of political prisoners in Iran or the recent destruction of mass graves, we continue to take action with the international community to press for improvements on all human rights issues in Iran, including ending the death penalty and by supporting the work done by the Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Iran.
Asked by: Lord Carlile of Berriew (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the recent deal signed between Myanmar and Bangladesh allowing the return to Myanmar of thousands of Rohingya Muslims, what representations they are making to the government of Myanmar encouraging it to guarantee the safety and political and social rights of those returnees.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK proposed and secured unanimous support for a UN Security Council Presidential Statement on 6 November which urged the Government of Burma to ensure the voluntary return of all refugees in conditions of safety and dignity to their homes, and to allow equal access to full citizenship for all individuals.
The Minister for Asia and the Pacific underlined this call in his meetings with Burma's Minister of Defence, the Deputy Foreign Minister, and Aung San Suu Kyi's Chief of Staff on 20 and 21 November. He stressed the need to ensure security for returnees.
On 23 November, Bangladesh and Burma signed a memorandum of understanding on the return of refugees to Rakhine State. We understand that a joint working group will be set up, with the aim of the process of returns commencing within two months.
The UK Government will press for quick progress on implementation of this bilateral agreement. But we will be clear that any returns must be safe, voluntary and dignified and there must be appropriate international oversight.
Asked by: Lord Carlile of Berriew (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the recommendations by the Henry Jackson Society to create international legal taskforces to gather evidence on the use of sexual violence against women as a tactic of (1) terrorists, and (2) traffickers, as set out in its report Trafficking Terror, published in October.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We condemn the use of sexual violence by terrorist organisations and are committed to holding perpetrators to account. UK law enforcement agencies are already assessing with multilateral and bilateral partners the threat posed globally by terrorism and human trafficking. Our Team of Experts is also supporting efforts to gather evidence of sexual violence in conflict. The Henry Jackson Society's report makes a number of valid points and we will be giving them due consideration. As I set out in reply to the question from the noble Baroness Cox on 1 November 2017 the UK Government fully supports UN Security Council Resolution 2331 addressing the links between human trafficking, sexual violence and terrorism. In September, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted UK-drafted UNSCR 2379, setting up an investigative team to gather evidence of crimes committed by Daesh, including sexual violence, beginning in Iraq. The team will be led by a Special Adviser with a mandate to promote the need to hold Daesh to account across the globe.
Asked by: Lord Carlile of Berriew (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they intend to make to the government of Pakistan to encourage it to improve its efforts to eradicate terrorist activity and extremism within Pakistan's borders.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK and Pakistan have a shared interest in the battle against terrorism. The UK is committed to working with Pakistan to combat the terrorist threat and the extremism that sustains it. We regularly highlight to Pakistan, at the highest level, the importance of taking effective action against all terrorist groups operating in Pakistan, as Pakistan has committed to do. My colleague, the Minister for Asia and the Pacific, raised this with his counterparts when he visited Pakistan earlier this month. On extremism, during Pakistan's UPR this November, the UK raised deep concern over the misuse of terrorism and blasphemy laws to persecute minority communities
The UK is helping Pakistan develop its capacity to protect itself from terrorism and extremism, and prosecute those who plan and commit terrorist attacks. Our counter-terrorism assistance to Pakistan is focussed on protecting civilians, strengthening rule of law and developing civilian counter-terrorism institutions.
Asked by: Lord Carlile of Berriew (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in the light of a UN report indicating that Iran carried out 247 executions in the first six months of this year, they have made, or intend to make, representations to the government of Iran concerning that government's position on human rights.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK Government opposes the use of the death penalty in all circumstances. We continue to take action with the international community to press for improvements on all human rights issues in Iran, including ending the death penalty and by supporting the work done by the Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Iran. We continue to raise human rights with the Iranian Government at all levels.
Asked by: Lord Carlile of Berriew (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to make representations to the government of Myanmar concerning the position of the Rohingyas, in particular their personal and group rights.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The British Government is deeply concerned by the situation in Rakhine and discrimination against the Muslim minority Rohingya population. Following the recent outbreak of violence in Rakhine State the Foreign Secretary has twice spoken with State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and has raised our concerns. Our ambassador in Rangoon has also raised our concerns with the Burmese authorities. The Minister of State for International Development (Rt Hon Alistair Burt MP) visited Burma in July. He discussed the situation in Rakhine State with the Burmese Ministers of Health and Education and met Rohingya leaders. We will continue to raise our concerns at every opportunity.
We are also urging the Government of Burma to improve living conditions and to address the citizenship status of the Rohingya and all communities in Burma, particularly those who face severe discrimination.
Asked by: Lord Carlile of Berriew (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of Iran’s financial and material support for international terror groups.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We continue to have serious concerns about Iran's support to militant groups across the Middle East including Hizballah, Hamas, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and other Palestinian rejectionist groups, as well as Shia militant groups in Iraq and radical opposition elements in Bahrain. This support includes the provision of financial resources and training as well as the supply of military equipment, in contravention of UN Security Council Resolution 1747 which prohibits the export of weapons by Iran.Asked by: Lord Carlile of Berriew (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether human rights abuses in Iran and that country’s support for terror groups have been discussed as part of the nuclear negotiations between the P5+1 and Iran.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
EU 3 (France, Germany and the United Kingdom) +3 (China, Russia, and the United States), nuclear talks with Iran have focused exclusively on the nuclear issue. However, Iran’s poor human rights record and links to proxy groups outside its borders remain causes of serious concern. We raise these issues publicly, in multilateral fora and in our bilateral contacts with Iran.