Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Pakistan regarding the case of Noman Masih who has been sentenced to death for alleged blasphemy.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
It is our longstanding policy to oppose the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle. We have not raised this specific case with the Government of Pakistan. We continue to urge Pakistan to ensure due process and adherence to international human rights obligations. We press for speedy and fair trials for those accused and urge the Pakistani authorities to ensure the safety of those released.
Asked by: Neale Hanvey (Alba Party - Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made representations to the Government of Nigeria on (a) the matter of individuals with minority beliefs receiving the death penalty for blasphemy and (b) the case of Yahaya Sharif-Aminu.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
Defending Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) for all is a human rights priority for the UK and a constitutional commitment of the Nigerian Government. The UK strongly opposes capital punishment in all circumstances and regularly raises blasphemy and death penalty cases with our partners. The British High Commission raises human rights issues, including FoRB, regularly with Nigeria's National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). Officials raised Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, and other blasphemy cases, with the Executive Secretary of the NHRC in April 2023. The UK's Special Envoy for FoRB wrote to the governor of Kano State to raise concern about Sharif-Aminu's sentencing under the state's penal code in December 2022. She will follow up on this with the new governor.
Asked by: Neale Hanvey (Alba Party - Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent representations he has received on the law on blasphemy in Nigeria.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
Defending Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) for all is a human rights priority for the UK and a constitutional commitment of the Nigerian Government. The UK strongly opposes capital punishment in all circumstances and regularly raises blasphemy and death penalty cases with our partners. The British High Commission raises human rights issues, including FoRB, regularly with Nigeria's National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). Officials raised Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, and other blasphemy cases, with the Executive Secretary of the NHRC in April 2023. The UK's Special Envoy for FoRB wrote to the governor of Kano State to raise concern about Sharif-Aminu's sentencing under the state's penal code in December 2022. She will follow up on this with the new governor.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment has he made of the implications for his policies of recent reports that Saudi Arabia carried out an execution during Ramadan.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Saudi Arabia remains a Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office human rights priority country, in part because of the increased use of the death penalty. Saudi Arabia is well aware of the UK's opposition to the death penalty in all countries and in all circumstances, as a matter of principle. We regularly raise the death penalty with the Saudi authorities through diplomatic channels, including at Ministerial level.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Uganda following the signing into law by that government prescribing the death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality".
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The UK Government is appalled by the Government of Uganda's decision to sign the anti-homosexuality bill into law on 28 May 2023, in particular the introduction of the death penalty for so-called 'aggravated homosexuality'. In his meetings with the Ugandan Foreign Minister on 4 May 2023 and the Ugandan High Commissioner on 1 June 2023, the Minister of State for Africa and Development [Andrew Mitchell] denounced the Act and the appalling effects it will have on LGBT+ people in Uganda. The Prime Minister has also spoken with the Foreign Minister, as has the Foreign Secretary with the High Commissioner. The British High Commissioner to Uganda has made the UK's position over this regressive legislation clear with a wide range of government of Uganda representatives including President Museveni.
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 he will make representations to the Pakistani authorities on the death sentence passed on Noman Masih in the Punjab province on 30 May.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
It is our longstanding policy to oppose the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle. We have not raised this specific case with the Government of Pakistan. We continue to urge Pakistan to ensure due process and adherence to international human rights obligations. We press for speedy and fair trials for those accused and urge the Pakistani authorities to ensure the safety of those released.
Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he plans to respond to the emails from the hon. Member for Brighton Pavilion of 23 May, 25 May and 7 June 2023 on the impending execution of Mohmmad Ghobadloo in Iran; what discussions and contact his Department has had with Iran's Chargé d'Affaires on that case; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
A response to the email dated 23 May is in process and we aim to respond within 20 working days as per the Cabinet Office guidelines. The FCDO have no record of the emails dated 25 May and 7 June. Please can these be resent to FCDO.Correspondence@fcdo.gov.uk.
The UK Government is firmly opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances and every country, including Iran. We raise our objections to executions of protesters at all appropriate opportunities, including with the Iranian Embassy in London and through our Ambassador in Tehran. On 19 May the Minister of State for the Middle East, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon condemned Iran's continued use of the death penalty to instil fear and suppress dissent. On 9 January and 8 December, the Foreign Secretary ordered the summoning of Iran's most senior diplomat in the UK, to protest Iran's continued imposition of the death penalty on protesters. We will continue to work closely with our international partners to ensure Iran is held to account on the world stage.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 17 April to Question 176822 on Uganda: LGBT+ People, what recent representations he has made (a) to the Ugandan Government and (b) in UN fora on the issue of anti LGBTQ+ legislation.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
In my meeting with the Ugandan Foreign Minister on 4 May 2023 and High Commissioner on 1 June 2023, I argued strongly against the passage of this Bill. The Prime Minister has also spoken with the Foreign Minister, as has the Foreign Secretary with the High Commissioner. The UK firmly condemns the introduction of the death penalty for 'aggravated homosexuality'.
Through the Equal Rights Coalition (ERC), the UK and likeminded partners have engaged in constructive conversations with UN Agencies, including the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The ERC issued a collective statement following the legislation's adoption, calling on the Government of Uganda to recognise the protections and freedoms of all Ugandans, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the number of people in Uganda who have been (a) charged, (b) imprisoned and (c) sentenced to death under anti-LGBTQ+ legislation since the introduction of that legislation.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
I condemn the Government of Uganda's enactment of the deeply discriminatory Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2023, in particular the introduction of the death penalty for so-called 'aggravated homosexuality'. I strongly urge the Government of Uganda to protect the rights and freedoms of all Ugandans under the constitution.
As of 8 June 2023, we are not aware of anyone being charged, imprisoned or sentenced to death under the Anti-Homosexuality Act since its implementation on 30 May 2023. Regarding prior anti-LGBT+ legislation, this has existed since the colonial era penal code, which criminalised 'unnatural acts' but did not impose the death penalty. We have no reliable information on those charged or imprisoned under previous anti-LGBT+ legislation.
Asked by: Zarah Sultana (Labour - Coventry South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information his Department holds on the treatment of death row inmates in Jau Prison in Bahrain; and whether he plans to make representations to his Bahraini counterpart on this issue.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The FCDO follows matters that relate to human rights within Bahrain closely, including some individual cases. The UK Government's long-standing policy is to oppose the death penalty in all circumstances, in all countries, as a matter of principle, and Bahrain is fully aware of that. During Bahrain's Universal Periodic Review in November 2022, the UK recommended an immediate moratorium on the use of the death penalty. We also encourage those with specific concerns to raise them directly with the appropriate Bahraini oversight body.