Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he plans to make to his Sudanese counterpart on the cases of (a) Mohamed Esmat, (b) Ismael Jalab and (c) Mubarak Ardol.

The British Government condemns the arrest and detention of Mohamed Esmat, Ismael Jalab and Mubarak Ardol by the Sudanese security forces. We understand all have now been released. Violence must not be used, including against opponents. Sudanese people should not be faced with the threat of arbitrary detention or deportation. We consistently made clear to the former Government of Sudan our expectation that all detainees should be treated in accordance with international standards; we continue to call upon the Sudanese authorities to do so. On 6 June, I summoned the Sudanese Ambassador to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to express the grave concerns of the United Kingdom at the use of violence against civilians by the Sudanese authorities. Our Embassy in Khartoum continues to publicly and directly call on members of the Transitional Military Council to take the steps needed to improve the situation in Sudan, including the release of all political prisoners. We also engage regularly with civil society groups on the issue of detainee treatment.