Asked by: Feryal Clark (Labour - Enfield North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent representations she has made to her counterpart in the government of Mozambique on (a) the ongoing conflict and (b) recent reports of human rights abuses in that country; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Vicky Ford
We welcome the news that Mozambican, Southern African Development Community and Rwandan Forces have recovered areas of Cabo Delgado, north-east Mozambique, that were previously under insurgent control. We now look forward to the Government of Mozambique working with international partners to ensure humanitarian assistance reaches affected areas, and reconstruction can take place. Lord Ahmad, the UK's Minister of State for Human Rights, spoke to Mozambican Foreign Minister Macamo in March, reaffirming UK support to help Mozambique fight terrorism and stressing that respect for human rights must be at the forefront of Mozambique's response. We are working with the Government of Mozambique to address the root drivers of the conflict and instability, including by providing targeted assistance under the framework of a Defence Memorandum of Understanding and by co-chairing a high-level international taskforce on Cabo Delgado with Ireland. We are also supporting implementation of the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights, working with Government, civil society and the private sector to promote a community-focused approach to security and minimize the risks of human rights abuses.
Asked by: Feryal Clark (Labour - Enfield North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of recent reports of human rights abuses against (a) peaceful protestors and (b) ethnic and faith minorities in Turkey.
Answered by Wendy Morton - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We strongly support the right to peaceful protest, as well as freedom of association. We also support all minority groups in Turkey and encourage the Turkish authorities to safeguard their welfare and respect their human rights, in line with provisions in the Turkish constitution that protect the rights of religious minorities. We participated in the 2020 UN Universal Periodic Review of Turkey, and pressed particularly for removing obstacles to freedom of expression, including freedom of religion or belief. We will continue to engage with Turkey on these important issues and monitor the treatment of minorities.
Asked by: Feryal Clark (Labour - Enfield North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has met representatives of the Falun Dafa Association UK to discuss the illegal practice of organ harvesting and persecution by the Chinese Government of the Falun Gong people in that country.
Answered by Amanda Milling
We remain deeply concerned about restrictions on freedom of religion or belief in China, including the persecution of Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Falun Gong practitioners and others on the grounds of their religion or belief. The freedom to practise, change or share ones faith or belief without discrimination or violent opposition is a human right that all people should enjoy.
We continue to monitor and review evidence relating to reports of forced organ harvesting in China and maintain a dialogue with leading NGOs and international partners on the issue.
We regularly raise our concerns about human rights with the Chinese authorities. The Foreign Secretary did so most recently in a telephone call with her Chinese counterpart, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, on 22 October.
Asked by: Feryal Clark (Labour - Enfield North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent representations she has made to her counterpart in the Chinese government on protecting the religious freedoms and freedom of belief of (a) the Falun Gong people, (b) Muslims, (c) Christians and (d) all minority religious groups in China; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Amanda Milling
We remain deeply concerned about restrictions on freedom of religion or belief in China, including the persecution of Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Falun Gong practitioners and others on the grounds of their religion or belief. The freedom to practise, change or share ones faith or belief without discrimination or violent opposition is a human right that all people should enjoy.
We continue to monitor and review evidence relating to reports of forced organ harvesting in China and maintain a dialogue with leading NGOs and international partners on the issue.
We regularly raise our concerns about human rights with the Chinese authorities. The Foreign Secretary did so most recently in a telephone call with her Chinese counterpart, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, on 22 October.
Asked by: Feryal Clark (Labour - Enfield North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent meetings she has had with her Iranian counterpart on the release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe.
Answered by James Cleverly - Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
The Foreign Secretary discussed Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, Morad Tahbaz and Anoosheh Ashoori's cases with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on 8 November. The Foreign Secretary has also taken every opportunity to discuss the situation with other key players in the region and more widely and will continue to do so. I raised all our cases with my Iranian counterpart Deputy Foreign Minister, Bagheri Kani when he visited the FCDO on 11 November. Our Ambassador in Tehran continues to regularly raise Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, Morad Tahbaz and Anoosheh Ashoori with the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ministers hold regular meetings with officials to direct activity across the FCDO to secure her release and that of other detained British nationals.
Asked by: Feryal Clark (Labour - Enfield North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the report by Yasmin Sooka and Frances Harrison, entitled Sri Lanka: Torture and Sexual Violence by Security Forces 2020-2021, published in September 2021; and what representations she has made to her counterparts in Sri Lanka on systematic torture and sexual violence perpetuated by security forces in that country.
Answered by Amanda Milling
The UK Government notes the report entitled Sri Lanka: Torture and Sexual Violence by Security Forces 2020-2021 and is concerned by the allegations contained within it. The UK takes allegations of torture and sexual violence very seriously, and we continue to push the government of Sri Lanka to take action on accountability for violations committed during and after the conflict, including crimes of sexual violence, as part of wider engagement on transitional justice. This is through the UK-led resolution UN Human Rights Council resolution 46/1 on promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka. The resolution also expresses concern at alleged torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment.
The Minister for South Asia Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon has raised the importance of these issues on several occasions with the Sri Lankan High Commissioner and the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister G.L. Peiris, most recently during calls on 10 May and 24 September respectively. The Foreign Secretary raised the importance of upholding human rights when she met with Foreign Minister Peiris on 26 October. We will continue to press for a strong role for the UNHRC to help deliver accountability and reconciliation and ensure the protection of human rights in Sri Lanka.
Asked by: Feryal Clark (Labour - Enfield North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent representations she has made to her Bangladeshi counterparts on protecting the religious freedoms and freedom of belief of (a) Hindus, (b) all minority religious groups and (c) people with no religion in Bangladesh; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Amanda Milling
The UK Government is concerned about the recent violence at Hindu Durga Puja celebrations across various districts in Bangladesh. We engage with the Government of Bangladesh on the importance of freedom of religion or belief, which remains a priority for the UK Government. Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, the Minister of State for South Asia, tweeted his concern on 21 October. The British High Commissioner to Bangladesh discussed the violence with Foreign Minister Momen on 26 October, and on 19 October expressed his condolences to the victims of the violence and the UK's support for those working for religious tolerance and harmony in Bangladesh and around the world.
Asked by: Feryal Clark (Labour - Enfield North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the implications for his policies of the political and humanitarian situation in Lebanon.
Answered by James Cleverly - Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
The UK Government closely follows the security situation in Beirut and across Lebanon, and maintains a regular dialogue with international counterparts on this. Following the recent clashes in Beirut on 14 October, I issued a public message calling for calm. The UK Government and likeminded partners also reiterated this message at the most recent UN Security Council closed consultations on UNSCR 1559 in Lebanon on 20 October.
Asked by: Feryal Clark (Labour - Enfield North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her European counterparts on strengthening co-operation on security.
Answered by James Cleverly - Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
Since her appointment on 15 September, the Foreign Secretary has engaged closely with European counterparts on defence and security matters, through bilateral and multilateral channels. Of particular note is the roundtable that she hosted with her counterparts from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, at which the attendees discussed the bilateral and multilateral partnerships between our countries, as well as Russia, China and the global security climate. Additionally, she recently met with her Greek counterpart to sign the UK-Greece Strategic Bilateral Framework, which builds on strong existing security and defence cooperation. The Foreign Secretary is preparing for her first NATO Ministerial meeting on 30 November, where she will meet with Allied counterparts from Europe.Asked by: Feryal Clark (Labour - Enfield North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has made representations to her Nigerian counterpart on the situation of British citizen Maazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The UK Government is seeking clarification about the circumstances of Mr Kanu's arrest from the Nigerian Government. We are also taking active steps to provide assistance to Mr Kanu. We are in regular contact with the Nigerian authorities and remain in contact with his family and legal representatives. Our current priority is Mr Kanu's health, welfare and fair treatment and we will continue to proactively follow up with the Nigerian authorities on this case.