Asked by: Theresa Villiers (Conservative - Chipping Barnet)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment for his policies of the findings of the report by the all party parliamentary group for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community on Mon 20 July 2020, entitled The Persecution of Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan and the Rise of International Extremism.
Answered by Nigel Adams
We are considering the recommendations of the APPG for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in their report on Ahmadi Muslims of 20 July. Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State for South Asia, spoke at the launch event for the APPG's report on 21 July. The UK Government remains deeply concerned by reports of discrimination and violence against religious communities in Pakistan, including against the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. We continue to urge the Government of Pakistan at senior levels to guarantee the fundamental rights of all its citizens, regardless of their belief. Most recently, Lord Ahmad raised our concerns about Freedom of Religion or Belief, with Pakistan's Human Rights Minister, Dr Shireen Mazari, on 27 August. We will continue to urge the Government of Pakistan to guarantee the fundamental rights of all its citizens, as laid down in the constitution of Pakistan and in accordance with international standards.
Asked by: Theresa Villiers (Conservative - Chipping Barnet)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to prevent an outbreak of covid-19 in the Rohingya Refugee Camps in Bangladesh.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The UK has committed £11 million to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 crisis in Cox's Bazar and prevent further outbreaks.
UK aid has created treatment facilities, including more than 600 beds for refugees and host communities suffering from severe respiratory infections. UK aid is also adding more than 2,400 handwashing facilities in the camps and raising public health awareness. This includes reaching Rohingya refugees with information and support to reduce rumours, myths, fear and panic about COVID-19, through the Communications with Communities Working Group. In addition, we have supported surge deployments from the UK Emergency Medical Team.
Asked by: Theresa Villiers (Conservative - Chipping Barnet)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to his Turkish counterpart to express the Government's opposition to turning Hagia Sophia into a mosque.
Answered by Wendy Morton
We have noted President Erdogan's decision to turn Hagia Sophia into a mosque. While we note the concern this action has caused internationally, the Government regards this as a sovereign matter for Turkey. We have therefore not discussed the matter with other countries or organisations. However, we would expect that Hagia Sophia - part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site - remains accessible to all, as testament to Turkey's rich and diverse historical and cultural legacy, and that its precious artefacts are preserved. We therefore welcome the public statements by Turkish leaders that this historic building will continue to be accessible to people of all faiths and nationalities.
Asked by: Theresa Villiers (Conservative - Chipping Barnet)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 14 July 2020 to Question 69487, if he will make it his policy to refer to the 1949 Armistice Line as the pre-1967 lines and not the 1967 borders.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The UK's longstanding position on the Middle East Peace Process is clear: we support a negotiated settlement leading to a safe and secure Israel living alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state. We are clear that the borders should be based on the lines as they stood on June 4 1967 - the eve of the Six Day War - with equal land swaps reflecting the national, security, and religious interests of the Israeli and Palestinian peoples. The UK supports UN Security Council Resolution 2334 which paved the way for agreed changes to the 1967 lines as part of a final status deal and as agreed by the parties.
Asked by: Theresa Villiers (Conservative - Chipping Barnet)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make further representations to his Chinese counterpart on the abuse of the human rights of Uyghur Muslims in that country.
Answered by Nigel Adams
As I set out during an Urgent Question in the House of Commons on 29 June, we are seriously concerned about the human rights situation in Xinjiang. On 30 June, the UK read out a formal statement on behalf of 28 countries at the 44th session of the UN Human Rights Council highlighting arbitrary detention, widespread surveillance and restrictions, particularly those targeting Uyghurs and other minorities, and urged China to allow the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights meaningful access to the region. On 9 March, the Foreign Secretary raised our concerns with his Chinese counterpart, Foreign Minister and State Councillor Wang Yi. We will continue to raise this issue with the Chinese authorities, both bilaterally with China and at the UN alongside our international partners.
Asked by: Theresa Villiers (Conservative - Chipping Barnet)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assistance the Government is able to give to Uyghur Muslims detained in camps in China.
Answered by Nigel Adams
As I set out during an Urgent Question in the House of Commons on 29 June, we are seriously concerned about the human rights situation in Xinjiang. On 30 June, the UK read out a formal statement on behalf of 28 countries at the 44th session of the UN Human Rights Council highlighting arbitrary detention, widespread surveillance and restrictions, particularly those targeting Uyghurs and other minorities, and urged China to allow the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights meaningful access to the region. On 9 March, the Foreign Secretary raised our concerns with his Chinese counterpart, Foreign Minister and State Councillor Wang Yi. We will continue to raise this issue with the Chinese authorities, both bilaterally with China and at the UN alongside our international partners.
Asked by: Theresa Villiers (Conservative - Chipping Barnet)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Sri Lankan counterpart on the imposition of Magnitsky sanctions for people involved in war crimes and human rights abuses during the Sri Lankan civil war.
Answered by Nigel Adams
On 6 July the UK Government established the Global Human Rights ('Magnitsky') sanctions regime by laying regulations in Parliament under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018. This sanctions regime will give the UK a powerful new tool to hold to account those involved in serious human rights violations or abuses by stopping them from entering our country, channelling money through UK banks, or profiting from our economy. It is not appropriate to speculate on who may be designated under the sanctions regime in the future. We do not want to reduce the impact of the designations. We will keep all evidence and potential listings under close review.
The UK is a member of the Core Group on Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and has long supported Sri Lanka's commitments under UNHRC Resolutions 30/1, 34/1 and 40/1 on accountability, reconciliation and justice for all communities following the Sri Lankan civil war. The Foreign Secretary and the Minister for South Asia, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, have both underlined the importance of these commitments in recent engagement with the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister, Dinesh Gunawardena.
Asked by: Theresa Villiers (Conservative - Chipping Barnet)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the historical accuracy of Government references to the 1949 Armistice Line between (a) Israel, (b) Egypt, (c) Jordan, (d) Lebanon and (e) Syria as the 1967 borders.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
In 1950, on de jure recognition to the State of Israel, Her Majesty's Government noted that they could not regard the present boundaries between Israel, and Egypt, Jordan, Syria and the Lebanon as constituting the definitive frontiers of Israel, as these boundaries were laid down in the Armistice Agreements. As such they were subject to any modifications which could be agreed upon under the terms of those Agreements, or of any final settlements which may replace them. Following Israel's occupation of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, Gaza and the Golan Heights in 1967, we distinguish between the State of Israel within the pre-1967 lines and the territories occupied since 1967. It has been the position of every UK Government since 1967 that the these territories were not lawfully part of the State of Israel at its creation or at any point thereafter. We are clear that the permanent borders between Israel and a future Palestinian state should be based on the 1967 lines, with mutually-agreed land swaps to reflect the interests of the Jewish and Palestinian peoples. The final status of these borders must be determined by the parties.
Asked by: Theresa Villiers (Conservative - Chipping Barnet)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to his US counterpart on the importance of ensuring that people can continue to fly to the US from UK airports.
Answered by Wendy Morton
We are working with the US Administration to highlight the concerns of UK citizens who are affected by the current travel restrictions implemented by the US. However, immigration policy is ultimately a matter for the US authorities.
Asked by: Theresa Villiers (Conservative - Chipping Barnet)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to his Turkish counterpart on the protection of press freedom in Turkey.
Answered by Wendy Morton
We regularly raise our human rights concerns with the Turkish authorities at the highest level, including on freedom of expression. We are playing a leading role in the international media freedom campaign the former Foreign Secretary launched last year. We will continue to engage the Turkish Government on these important issues, and to urge respect for freedom and protection of the media. We are clear in our expectation that Turkey, like all countries, should live up to its human rights obligations towards all sections of society.