Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Iranian counterpart about the imposition of the death penalty on protestors in Iran.
Answered by David Rutley
The use of the death penalty against protestors standing up for their basic human rights is morally abhorrent. The UK opposes the death penalty in all circumstances. On 20 December Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon spoke to Iran's most senior diplomat to protest against Iran's continued use of the death penalty. On 8 December, the Foreign Secretary released a statement demanding that Iran halt all executions and end the violence against its own people. On 9 December we sanctioned 10 Iranian officials connected to Iran's judicial and prison systems, including six individuals linked to the Revolutionary Courts that have been responsible for prosecuting protestors with egregious sentences including the death penalty.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the consequences for his policies of the continued (a) use of violence and (b) persecution by the Iranian Government towards (i) women protesters and (ii) their supporters.
Answered by David Rutley
The repeated violations of basic human rights committed by the Iranian regime against its own citizens is abhorrent. Working with our international partners, the UK secured the removal of Iran from the UN Commission on the Support of Women on 14 December, and the establishment of a UN investigation into the regime's response to protests at the Human Rights Council on 24 November. On 9 December, the UK implemented a third round of human rights sanctions against individuals involved in the suppression of protests, bringing the total to over 40 individuals and one entity since the protests began. We will continue to urge Iran to improve its human rights record at all appropriate opportunities, including on women and girls, and to work with international partners to ensure accountability.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with international counterparts on former Afghan special forces being recruited by the Russian military.
Answered by Leo Docherty
We are aware of media reports on Russia's recruitment of former Afghan forces, possibly for their deployment as mercenary forces in the Ukraine conflict. As Russia continues to experience battlefield setbacks in Ukraine, it has exposed the limitations of using large numbers of inexperienced and poorly equipped conscripts. As a result the Kremlin is increasingly prepared to deploy mercenary forces. We continue to work closely with our international partners to counter Russian malign activity, including its use of mercenaries, and respond to actions that undermine the rules based international system.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made for the implications of her policies of the determination of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention of 4 May 2022 that Jagtar Singh Johal is arbitrarily detained and should be released.
Answered by Vicky Ford
We take the opinion of the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on Mr Johal very seriously. The British Government has consistently raised its concerns about Mr Johal's case with the Government of India, including his allegations of torture and mistreatment and his right to a fair trial.
The Prime Minister raised the case with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi when they met in Delhi on 22 April 2022. The Foreign Secretary raised Mr Johal's detention with India's Minister of External Affairs, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, when they met in Delhi on 31 March 2022. Ministers and officials raise Mr Johal's case regularly and will continue to do so.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the written evidence, AFG0015, submitted by the Sulha Alliance to the Defence Committee’s inquiry into the Withdrawal from Afghanistan, published on 14 October 2021, how many of the 183 Afghan GardaWorld contractors are considered eligible under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme.
Answered by James Cleverly - Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
On 6 January the Government announced the opening of the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS). Under the third pathway, and in the first year, the Government will consider for resettlement British Council and Gardaworld contractors and Chevening alumni who are at risk. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office will be in touch with those eligible to support them through next steps.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the written evidence, AFG0015, submitted by the Sulha Alliance to the Defence Committee’s inquiry into the Withdrawal from Afghanistan, published on 14 October 2021, how many of the 183 Afghan GardaWorld contractors who are principal applicants and are currently in Afghanistan have as of 28 March 2022 been contacted by her Department with information about arrangements for their relocation under the Afghan citizens resettlement scheme.
Answered by James Cleverly - Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
On 6 January the Government announced the opening of the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS). Under the third pathway, and in the first year, the Government will consider for resettlement British Council and Gardaworld contractors and Chevening alumni who are at risk. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office will be in touch with those eligible to support them through next steps.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the written evidence, AFG0015, submitted by the Sulha Alliance to the Defence Committee’s inquiry into the Withdrawal from Afghanistan, published on 14 October 2021, how many of the 183 Afghan GardaWorld contractors who are principal applicants have as of 28 March 2022 been relocated under the Afghan citizens resettlement scheme to the UK.
Answered by James Cleverly - Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
On 6 January the Government announced the opening of the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS). Under the third pathway, and in the first year, the Government will consider for resettlement British Council and Gardaworld contractors and Chevening alumni who are at risk. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office will be in touch with those eligible to support them through next steps.