Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the numbers of Muslims who have left the Maldives to fight in the Near and Middle East.

The Maldives government has said that at least 40 of its citizens have travelled to fight in Iraq and Syria. However, other reports suggest that up to 200 Maldivians have done so. We have requested the government to provide clarification and share with us their latest assessment.

The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire) discussed joint work to counter terrorism and tackle extremism with the Maldives government, including with President Yameen, during his visit on 17 and 18 January.