Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for the Baha'i community and freedom of religion or belief in northern Yemen of the death sentence pronounced against the Yemeni Baha'i Mr bin Haydara.

We are very concerned about the persecution of Baha'is in Yemen, particularly in areas controlled by the Houthis and forces aligned to the late former President Saleh. The immediate release of all Baha'is in Yemen imprisoned for their religious beliefs was a key demand in the September United Nations Human Rights Council Resolution, which we supported. We will work closely with all partners to ensure its full implementation. We are in close contact with the Baha'i community in London regarding Mr Haydara's case and the wider situation of Bahai's in Yemen. I met with with representatives of the Baha'i community on 18 January to discuss this and other cases.