Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to follow the government of Canada in offering asylum to Raif Badawi.

The United Kingdom has a proud tradition of providing protection to those who need it and we will continue to fulfil our responsibilities to those who arrive in the UK and claim asylum.

However to be eligible for international protection under the 1951 Refugee Convention, a person must be located outside their country of origin. We cannot undertake to consider granting asylum to individuals or groups of people abroad and it is not our practice to grant visas for the purpose of seeking asylum. It is understood that Mr Badawi’s wife and children have been given asylum in Canada.