Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 4 July (HL16567), why they were not aware of Nabeel Rajab’s application, and subsequent rejection, for alternative sentencing, given (1) reports by international news outlets, and (2) their close monitoring of his case; and what mechanisms they use to assess Bahrain’s provision of alternative sentences.

We are not privy to individual applications for alternative sentencing. We assess information that is publically released through official channels. The decision making process of the application of alternative sentencing is subject to meeting qualifying conditions and remains the responsibility of the Bahraini judicial system. We are closely monitoring the trials of Mr Rajab with officials from the Embassy regularly attending court hearings. We have raised the case as part of the UK's ongoing open dialogue with Bahrain at senior levels. We continue to urge the Government of Bahrain to protect freedom of expression for all its citizens in line with its international commitments.