Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if the Government will take steps to tackle religious persecution in Cuba.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The UK is committed to defending Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) for all. We actively promote the right to FoRB through our diplomatic activity both directly with countries, and through multilateral fora including the UN where we call out countries that violate this human right.
The reports of the continued maltreatment of those religious leaders arrested by the Government of Cuba are concerning. We have raised the ongoing detentions of protestors directly with the Cuban Government, both in London and Havana. We are clear that human rights must be respected in Cuba: all Cubans should have the right to protest peacefully and detention must not be used as a tool to restrict freedom of expression, assembly, or religion or belief.
Asked by: Fabian Hamilton (Labour - Leeds North East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with her Cuban counterpart on reports that over 100 people who took part protests in Cuba in July have been sentenced to jail terms of up to 30 years.
Answered by Vicky Ford
We have raised our concerns over ongoing detentions, both in London and Havana, and continue to do so directly with the Cuban Government. We are clear that all Cubans should have the right to protest peacefully and that detention must not be used as a tool to restrict freedom of expression, assembly and religion or belief
The UK was one of the first countries to call for the Cuban people to be allowed to express their views freely and peacefully following the Cuban Government's response to demonstrations on 11 July.
Asked by: Fabian Hamilton (Labour - Leeds North East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with her US counterpart on the operations of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation in Cuba.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The UK has regular discussions with the US and other member states on the FAO's work across a wide range of policy and geographic priorities, as well as with countries in the Latin America Group, of which Cuba is a member.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will make representations to the Cuban authorities on reports from the Open Doors organisation of increased persecution of Christians in that country.
Answered by Vicky Ford
We have taken note of reports from the Christian non-governmental organisation, Open Doors.
The UK is concerned by the arrests of religious leaders and reports of their continued maltreatment by the Government of Cuba. We have raised our concerns over ongoing detentions directly with the Cuban Government, both in London and Havana. We are clear that all Cubans should have the right to protest peacefully, and that detention must not be used as a tool to restrict freedom of expression, assembly, and religion or belief. The UK was one of the first countries to call for the Cuban people to be allowed to express their views freely and peacefully following the Cuban Government's response to demonstrations on 11 July.
Asked by: Fabian Hamilton (Labour - Leeds North East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her Cuban counterpart on the arrest of peaceful protestors aged under 18 during the 2021 protests in that country.
Answered by Vicky Ford
Many protestors including minors remain detained in Cuba following protests in July 2021. The UK Government has raised the ongoing detentions directly with the Cuban Government, both in London and Havana. We are clear that all Cubans should have the right to protest peacefully, and that detention must not be used as a tool to restrict freedom of expression, assembly, and religion. The UK was one of the first countries to call for the Cuban people to be allowed to express their views freely and peacefully following the Cuban government's response to the July protests. We are concerned that lengthy prison sentences are being handed down to discourage any further peaceful protests and that the Cuban Government refused permission for protests in November. We have also urged the Cuban Government to ensure transparency in judicial proceedings, and ensure appropriate conditions for those held on violent crimes charges. We continue to monitor the situation closely.
Asked by: Fabian Hamilton (Labour - Leeds North East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her Cuban counterpart on the arrest of peaceful protestors during the protests in 2021 in that country.
Answered by Vicky Ford
Many protestors including minors remain detained in Cuba following protests in July 2021. The UK Government has raised the ongoing detentions directly with the Cuban Government, both in London and Havana. We are clear that all Cubans should have the right to protest peacefully, and that detention must not be used as a tool to restrict freedom of expression, assembly, and religion. The UK was one of the first countries to call for the Cuban people to be allowed to express their views freely and peacefully following the Cuban government's response to the July protests. We are concerned that lengthy prison sentences are being handed down to discourage any further peaceful protests and that the Cuban Government refused permission for protests in November. We have also urged the Cuban Government to ensure transparency in judicial proceedings, and ensure appropriate conditions for those held on violent crimes charges. We continue to monitor the situation closely.
Asked by: Fabian Hamilton (Labour - Leeds North East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with her (a) Cuban and (b) Venezuelan counterpart on the Russian Government's refusal to rule out military deployments to those countries.
Answered by Vicky Ford
We have not had discussions with the Cuban Government or with counterparts in Venezuela, where we do not recognise the Maduro regime. We are, however, concerned by Russia's refusal to rule out military deployments to Venezuela and Cuba.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking in response to the 4 November statement by the All Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief on the government of Cuba's targeting of religious leaders following protests in July.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The UK is concerned by the arrests of religious leaders in Cuba, and reports of their continued maltreatment by the Government of Cuba. We have raised our concerns over ongoing detentions directly with the Cuban Government, both in London and Havana. We are clear that all Cubans should have the right to protest peacefully, and that detention must not be used as a tool to restrict freedom of expression, assembly, and religion. The UK was one of the first countries to call for the Cuban people to be allowed to express their views freely and peacefully following the Cuban Government's response to demonstrations on 11 July. We continue to monitor the situation closely.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to raise human rights abuses with the government of Cuba, including the rights to freedom of assembly, expression, and religion or belief; and whether they plan to send an observer from the British Embassy in Cuba to attend the trial of Pastor Lorenzo Rosales Fajardo.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
Our constructive and honest relationship with Cuba allows for frank dialogue on matters on which we do not agree. UK ministers and senior officials have raised our concerns over the approach to public demonstrations directly with the Cuban Government, including twice over the last month. The British Embassy in Havana also regularly raises these issues with the Cuban Government, and will continue to monitor the situation closely, including Pastor Lorenzo Rosales Fajardo's trial.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of pro-democracy movements in Cuba.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are clear that all Cubans should have the right to protest peacefully and that detention must not be used as a tool to restrict freedom of expression, assembly or religion. The UK was one of the first countries on 12 July to call for the Cuban people to be allowed to express their views freely and peacefully. We have raised our concerns directly with the Cuban Government, both in London and Havana, and called for the authorities to release information on detained citizens, including their whereabouts.