Wednesday 20th April 2022

(2 years ago)

Westminster Hall
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Kevin Brennan Portrait Kevin Brennan
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As ever, the hon. Gentleman’s intervention is both compassionate and pertinent, and I will go on to say something about the way the Government handle these cases. The momentum that has been gained must be maintained and used by Ministers to redouble their efforts to reunite other British nationals in similar positions with their families.

Janet Daby Portrait Janet Daby (Lewisham East) (Lab)
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Will my hon. Friend give way?

Kevin Brennan Portrait Kevin Brennan
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I will give way a couple of times to colleagues who might want briefly to mention individual cases.

--- Later in debate ---
Janet Daby Portrait Janet Daby
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I thank my hon. Friend for giving way. He knows that I represent Anoosheh Ashoori, who was released with Nazanin. Does he agree that it is really important to keep the profiles of people who are detained in other countries right at the forefront of the Government’s attention? I truly believe that all the campaigning for Nazanin’s and Anoosheh’s release caused the Government eventually to respond and to do the right thing in the end.

Kevin Brennan Portrait Kevin Brennan
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I do not underestimate the complexities and how difficult it is tactically for the Government to approach these sorts of cases, but my hon. Friend is absolutely right. Where the families want their loved ones to be remembered and highlighted, that is exactly what should happen.