Asked by: Alex Chalk (Conservative - Cheltenham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations the Government has made to the Iranian Government on the alleged persecution of the Baha'i community.
Answered by Alistair Burt
We most recently called upon Iran to cease harassment of all religious minorities, including the Baha’is, at the UN interactive dialogue on human rights on 24 October, and at the UN General Assembly Third Committee on 15 November. We continue to urge Iran to fulfil its international and domestic obligations to protect freedom of religion or belief, and to allow the UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Iran access to the country to conduct research and investigations into concerns reported there.
Asked by: Alex Chalk (Conservative - Cheltenham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support the Government is providing to LGBT Kakuma refugees abroad.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin - Shadow Minister (Business and Trade)
The UK supports the delivery of essential services, including health and food assistance, at the Kakuma Camp in Kenya to benefit all refugees. The UK funds assistance through the Support for Protection and Assistance of Refugees in Kenya programme. The programme, worth £35m, assists around 8,000 refugees with livelihoods opportunities and supports the voluntarily return of refugees to their countries of origin. The programme also ensures that survivors of sexual and gender based violence receive appropriate medical care.
Asked by: Alex Chalk (Conservative - Cheltenham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions have taken place between the British and Iranian authorities on the case of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
I am deeply concerned by recent reports that Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been sentenced without confirmation of the charges against her. We continue to raise our strong concerns about British prisoners in Iran, including Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, at the highest levels in both London and Tehran. The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), did so in her introductory call with Iranian President Rouhani on 9 August. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Mr Johnson), similarly raised this case in his introductory call with Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif on 4 August, and followed up in writing on 29 August. Our Ambassador and embassy staff in Tehran raise this case with their Iranian counterparts at every available opportunity, and will continue to press for further details as well as assurances of Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s welfare. I met Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's family on 8 September to reassure them that we will continue to do all we can.
Asked by: Alex Chalk (Conservative - Cheltenham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking with foreign governments to counter ISIL propaganda online.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The UK is leading efforts to counter ISIL propaganda online. We co-chair the Global Coalition’s work to counter ISIL’s narrative, and I am hosting the Coalition’s Strategic Communications Working Group later this month. This aims to strengthen the Coalition’s understanding of the challenge posed by ISIL online. It will look at how we can use social media and the internet to counter ISIL’s propaganda.