Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 26 October (HL2556), in which they confirmed that they are opposed the use of the death penalty in Bahrain, when were the last five occasions they raised the case of Mohammed Ramadhan with the government of Bahrain; what was the title of the UK representative who raised the case; and what was the title of the Bahraini representative or authority with whom the case was raised.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK's long-standing policy is to oppose the death penalty in all circumstances, in all countries, as a matter of principle, which we have made clear on a regular basis to the Government of Bahrain. This includes regarding the case of Mohammed Ramadhan and others.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will clarify the remarks made by the Foreign Secretary on 26 October, where he stated that LGBT+ England football fans visiting the World Cup in Qatar "should show a little bit of flex and compromise".
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Staff from our Embassy provided consular support to two British nationals following an incident in Doha on 25 October.
Ministers and senior officials have raised the concerns of LGBT+ visitors to the World Cup with Qatari authorities at all levels, and will continue to engage on this issue ahead of the World Cup. They have repeatedly committed that "everybody is welcome". We will continue to encourage equal treatment and the respect of individual rights, and identify what action the Qatari authorities are taking to match their commitment.
LGBT+ rights is an issue that the UK prioritises internationally. We continue to engage with governments around the world to promote human rights and champion UK values.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they will make to (1) FIFA, and (2) the government of Qatar, about (a) the detaining of Peter Tatchell while peacefully protesting in Doha, and (b) the lack of LGBT+ rights in Qatar.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Staff from our Embassy provided consular support to two British nationals following an incident in Doha on 25 October.
Ministers and senior officials have raised the concerns of LGBT+ visitors to the World Cup with Qatari authorities at all levels, and will continue to engage on this issue ahead of the World Cup. They have repeatedly committed that "everybody is welcome". We will continue to encourage equal treatment and the respect of individual rights, and identify what action the Qatari authorities are taking to match their commitment.
LGBT+ rights is an issue that the UK prioritises internationally. We continue to engage with governments around the world to promote human rights and champion UK values.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they plan to make, if any, to the government of Bahrain about the (1) imprisonment, and (2) prospects of release from imprisonment, of Dr Abduljalil al-Singace.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We continue to monitor and discuss the case of Dr Abduljalil al-Singace and others as necessary, with the Bahraini Government as well as with the oversight bodies.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether, in conducting Overseas, Security and Justice Assistance assessments for 2020-21 for programmes delivered under the Gulf Strategy Fund, they have sought an assurance from the government of Bahrain that the practise of the death penalty will no longer be carried out.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK's long-standing policy is to oppose the death penalty in all circumstances, in all countries, as a matter of principle, which we have made clear on a regular basis to the Government of Bahrain.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to implement the recommendations in the report by Human Rights Watch and the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy The Court is Satisfied with the Confession, published on 10 October, that they (1) urge the government of Bahrain to implement the report’s recommendations, (2) suspend funding, support, technical assistance and training for security services and the judiciary until Bahrain enacts and complies with the recommendations in the report, and (3) urge the government of Bahrain to halt all executions and investigate torture allegations and violations of the right to a fair trial.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK government uses a range of reports and analyses and is aware of these cases. The UK's long-standing policy is to oppose the death penalty in all circumstances, in all countries, as a matter of principle, which we have made clear on a regular basis to the Government of Bahrain.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by Human Rights Watch and the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy The Court is Satisfied with the Confession, published on 10 October; and in particular its findings that (1) there are serious and persistent human rights violations in cases of eight death row inmates in Bahrain, and (2) beneficiaries of the Gulf Strategy Fund are associated with abuses.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK government uses a range of reports and analyses and is aware of these cases. The UK's long-standing policy is to oppose the death penalty in all circumstances, in all countries, as a matter of principle, which we have made clear on a regular basis to the Government of Bahrain.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, when were the last five occasions they raised the case of Mohammed Ramadhan with the government of Bahrain; what was the title of the UK representative who raised the case; and what was the title of the Bahraini representative or authority with whom the case was raised.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK's long-standing policy is to oppose the death penalty in all circumstances, in all countries, as a matter of principle, which we have made clear on a regular basis to the Government of Bahrain. This includes regarding the case of Mohammed Ramadhan and others.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to reports that (1) political prisoner Hussein Al-Saadi has been returned to Jau Prison in Bahrain despite suffering from heart problems and sickle cell disease, and (2) complaints made to Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior Ombudsman have not secured Al-Saadi adequate medical treatment, what urgent representations they will make to the government of Bahrain on this case.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Officials and ministers have regular discussions with senior Bahraini counterparts on human rights issues, including most recently during Lord Ahmad's meeting with the Bahraini Foreign Minister in New York. The Government of Bahrain has been clear that access to medical care for those in detention is guaranteed and provided. We welcome these assurances, urge continued transparency and encourage those with concerns to raise them with the appropriate Bahraini human rights oversight body.