Asked by: Karen Lee (Labour - Lincoln)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to Answer of 15 November 2018 to Quesrion 188258, whether any steps have been taken on behalf of Bahraini female political prisoners Hajer Mansoor, Najah Yusuf and Medina Ali to ensure that the Bahraini authorities allow them to see their families without the physical barrier which was imposed in September 2018.
Answered by Alistair Burt
As the Honourable Lady will know from answers in this House and the other place, our Embassy in Bahrain and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office continue to monitor the cases of Hajer Mansoor, Najah Ahmed Yusuf and Medina Ali.
We continue to encourage those with concerns about treatment in detention to report these to the relevant human rights oversight bodies. We also continue to encourage these bodies to carry out swift and thorough investigations into any such allegations. We understand that the National Institution for Human Rights and the Ministry of Interior Ombudsman are aware of these cases and have been in contact with the three individuals in question.
Asked by: Karen Lee (Labour - Lincoln)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his US counterpart on the potential lifting of suspension of Title III of the Helms-Burton legislation.
Answered by Alan Duncan
Officials in London and the British Embassy in Havana regularly raise our objections with US counterparts on trade restrictions on Cuba. We consider the US embargo to be counterproductive and we oppose any possible tightening of it in the future.
Asked by: Karen Lee (Labour - Lincoln)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has filed the case of Bahraini death-row inmate and victim of torture Zuhair Ebrahim under his Department's torture and mistreatment reporting guidance.
Answered by Alistair Burt
We are aware of the case of Zuhair Ebrahim, and we are seeking further information.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office registers details of alleged torture whenever this comes to the attention of a UK official in the course of their duties, in line with the UK Torture and Mistreatment Reporting Guidance.
We encourage those with concerns about treatment in detention to report these to the relevant human rights oversight bodies.
Asked by: Karen Lee (Labour - Lincoln)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Bahraini Government on the case of Zuhair Ebrahim who was sentenced to death on 29 November 2018.
Answered by Alistair Burt
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office monitors events in Bahrain closely. We are aware of the case of Zuhair Ebrahim and are seeking further information. It is the UK's longstanding position to oppose capital sentences in all circumstances and countries. We continue to make this clear to the Government of Bahrain.
Asked by: Karen Lee (Labour - Lincoln)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations his Department has made to authorities in Bahrain on the restrictions on (a) phone calls, (b) family visits and (c) allocated time outside the cell imposed on female political prisoners in Isa Town Prison.
Answered by Alistair Burt
I refer the Honourable Lady to the answer I gave to question 188257. Our Embassy in Bahrain and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office continue to monitor the cases of Hajer Mansoor, Najah Ahmed Yusuf and Medina Ali. We have raised the cases at a senior level with the Government of Bahrain.
We encourage those with concerns about treatment in detention to report these to the appropriate oversight body. We urge these oversight bodies to carry out swift and thorough investigations into any such claims. We understand that the National Institution for Human Rights and the Ministry of Interior Ombudsman are aware of these cases and have been in contact with the three individuals.
Asked by: Karen Lee (Labour - Lincoln)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps have been taken to help ensure that Bahraini female political prisoners Hajer Mansoor, Medina Ali, and Najah Yusuf will be protected from reprisals when their case is raised at the (a) UK Parliament and (b) United Nations.
Answered by Alistair Burt
The Honourable Lady will be aware from previous answers to questions and from my reply to the Westminster Hall Debate on 11 September that our Embassy in Bahrain and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office continue to monitor the cases of Hajer Mansoor, Najah Ahmed Yusuf and Medina Ali and that we have raised the cases at a senior level with the Government of Bahrain.
We encourage those with concerns about treatment in detention to report these to the appropriate oversight body. We urge these oversight bodies to carry out swift and thorough investigations into any such claims. We understand that the National Institution for Human Rights and the Ministry of Interior Ombudsman are aware of these cases and have been in contact with the three individuals.
Asked by: Karen Lee (Labour - Lincoln)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has to allocate unused money from the Integrated Activity Fund.
Answered by Alistair Burt
The Integrated Activity Fund is intended to be both flexible and responsive, able to support Her Majesty's Government (HMG's) needs in the Gulf Region in the achievement of regional strategic objectives. In the event that there is likely to be unused money at the end of the financial year it will, with the agreement of Her Majesty's Treasury, be used to support HMG strategic objectives elsewhere.