Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has made representations to the Government of Nigeria on (a) its proposed legislation regulating hate speech in that country and (b) the potential effect of that legislation on freedom of expression; and if he will make a statement.

We believe that the rights of individuals to express opinions and peacefully challenge authority are essential to a free and open society. Freedom of expression is essential to exercising human rights. When freedom of expression is under threat or restricted, human rights in general are challenged or diminished. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and will raise issues of concern regarding the legislation with the Nigerian authorities as part of our ongoing human rights dialogue.