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Written Question
Afghanistan: Human Rights
Friday 15th March 2024

Asked by: Mohammad Yasin (Labour - Bedford)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of (a) the report entitled A/HRC/55/80: Situation of human rights in Afghanistan - Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, published by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on 29 February 2024 and (b) allegations of human rights abuses against Shia Muslim (i) women and (ii) girls of Hazara ethnicity.

Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Government notes the recommendations in the UN Special Rapporteur's latest report and will continue working closely with the international community, including the G7, G20 and through the UN, to promote and protect the human rights of all Afghans, including women and girls, and to coordinate a consistent international response. More broadly, officials from the UK Mission to Afghanistan regularly press Taliban acting ministers to protect religious and ethnic minorities, including Shia Muslims and Hazara communities.


Written Question
Islamophobia
Friday 1st March 2024

Asked by: Anneliese Dodds (Labour (Co-op) - Oxford East)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will hold discussions with the Minister for Women and Equalities on the potential merits of appointing an independent adviser on tackling Islamophobia.

Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)

We continue to work closely with community groups, charities and schools to inform our position on tackling racially and religiously motivated discrimination as a whole – including anti-Muslim discrimination.


Written Question
Hate Crime: Muslims
Monday 23rd October 2023

Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester, Gorton)

Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether she has held meetings in 2023 on (a) Islamophobia and (b) hate crime against Muslims.

Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)

This Government is committed to doing everything we can to tackle anti-Muslim hatred and all forms of prejudice in our society. Ministers across Government regularly hold meetings covering these important issues. In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of internal discussions are not normally disclosed.


Written Question
Maternity Services: Ethnic Groups
Friday 22nd July 2022

Asked by: Feryal Clark (Labour - Enfield North)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will create an annual maternity survey specifically for Black women.

Answered by James Morris

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) undertakes a regular maternity survey of women giving give birth in all National Health Service acute trusts providing maternity services. In 2021, respondents could complete an online questionnaire, which increased the response rate, including from Asian and Asian British women and from those describing themselves as having ‘no religion’ or ‘Muslim’.

In preparing the 2023 survey, the CQC has engaged with other bodies to increase responses from black women and women from minority ethnic backgrounds. The CQC will also undertake engagement and communications activity to improve the survey’s profile and completion rate amongst ethnic minority groups with lower survey completion rates. The survey responses are analysed at a national level by ethnicity and other factors.


Written Question
Afghanistan: Muslims
Thursday 16th June 2022

Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the levels of violence perpetrated against the Hazara Muslim community in Afghanistan and need to prioritise members of that community's safe passage out of that country to the UK.

Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary

Hazara people, and other ethnic and religious minorities, have long faced attacks and discrimination in Afghanistan. We are monitoring the situation closely, including concerning reports of targeted killings and forced displacement in recent months. FCDO officials regularly raise human rights, including the rights of minority groups, in discussions with the Taliban, and urge them to uphold the rights of all Afghans. The Government has also made clear our serious concerns about the human rights situation in Afghanistan, including through statements from the UN Security Council, the G7 and women foreign ministers.

The Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) prioritises those who have assisted UK efforts in Afghanistan and vulnerable people, including members of minority groups at risk. Since the end of Op Pitting, the Government has supported over 4,600 individuals to leave Afghanistan. We will continue to work to ensure those still in Afghanistan are able to depart the country safely.


Written Question
Afghanistan: Muslims
Thursday 16th June 2022

Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent progress she has made on providing support to the Hazara Muslim community in Afghanistan.

Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary

Hazara people, and other ethnic and religious minorities, have long faced attacks and discrimination in Afghanistan. We are monitoring the situation closely, including concerning reports of targeted killings and forced displacement in recent months. FCDO officials regularly raise human rights, including the rights of minority groups, in discussions with the Taliban, and urge them to uphold the rights of all Afghans. The Government has also made clear our serious concerns about the human rights situation in Afghanistan, including through statements from the UN Security Council, the G7 and women foreign ministers.

The Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) prioritises those who have assisted UK efforts in Afghanistan and vulnerable people, including members of minority groups at risk. Since the end of Op Pitting, the Government has supported over 4,600 individuals to leave Afghanistan. We will continue to work to ensure those still in Afghanistan are able to depart the country safely.


Written Question
Iraq and Syria: Islamic State
Thursday 24th March 2022

Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the possibility of genocide committed against the Christian and Yazidi women by Daesh in Syria and Iraq.

Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

The UK is committed to the prevention and punishment of genocide as appropriate under the Genocide Convention, to which the UK is party. It is the long-standing policy of the British Government that any judgment as to whether genocide has occurred is a matter for a competent national or international court, rather than for governments or non-judicial bodies. It should be decided after consideration of all the evidence available in the context of a credible judicial process. This policy does not inhibit the UK from taking robust action to address the egregious human rights abuses committed by Daesh.

We condemn in the strongest terms the atrocities committed by Daesh against all civilians, including Yazidis, Christians and other minorities, as well as Muslim populations in Syria and Iraq. We note the conviction in a German court on 30 November 2021 of a former Daesh fighter for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. We are following this case and its review closely. We will continue to use our position at the UN, including as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, to raise situations of concern and to support the deployment of all appropriate tools available to the UN in dealing with potential mass atrocities. Our focus is always on securing an end to violence and protecting civilians.


Written Question
Refugees: Afghanistan
Monday 21st March 2022

Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will expedite the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme for people from (a) the Hararas Muslim community and (b) other minoritised communities.

Answered by Kevin Foster

The Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme commenced on 6th January, providing up to 20,000 women, children and others at risk with a safe and legal route to resettle in the UK.

The scheme will prioritise those who have assisted UK efforts in Afghanistan and stood up for UK values such as democracy, women’s rights, freedom of speech and rule of law; and vulnerable people such as women and girls at risk, and members of minority groups (including ethnic / religious minorities and LGBT+).

From Spring 2022, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) will refer refugees to the scheme, based on assessments of protection need.

The UK has a proud track record of helping those who need our protection – and this will continue.


Written Question
Islamic State: Females
Tuesday 15th March 2022

Asked by: Marco Longhi (Conservative - Dudley North)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether it is her Department's policy that Daesh (ISIS) crimes against Christian and Yazidi women constituted genocide.

Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

The UK is committed to the prevention and punishment of genocide as appropriate under the Genocide Convention, to which the UK is party. It is the long-standing policy of the British Government that any judgment as to whether genocide has occurred is a matter for a competent national or international court, rather than for governments or non-judicial bodies. It should be decided after consideration of all the evidence available in the context of a credible judicial process. This policy does not inhibit the UK from taking robust action to address the egregious human rights abuses committed by Daesh.

We condemn in the strongest terms the atrocities committed by Daesh against all civilians, including Yazidis, Christians and other minorities, as well as Muslim populations in Syria and Iraq. We note the conviction in a German court on 30 November 2021 of a former Daesh fighter for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. We are following this case and its review closely. We will continue to use our position at the UN, including as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, to raise situations of concern and to support the deployment of all appropriate tools available to the UN in dealing with potential mass atrocities. Our focus is always on securing an end to violence and protecting civilians.


Written Question
India: Muslims
Wednesday 9th March 2022

Asked by: Nadia Whittome (Labour - Nottingham East)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to assess the Indian government's recent reported actions against Muslim women, including legislation around fertility control; and whether the Government has raised concerns with the Indian government on that matter.

Answered by Vicky Ford

We condemn any instances of discrimination because of religion or belief, regardless of the country or faith involved. We are working hand-in-hand with state governments, law enforcement agencies, education authorities and British businesses in India to promote gender equality.

The British High Commission in New Delhi monitors all political and societal trends in India. We have noted draft legislation to incentivise limiting population growth in some Indian states. India has a long history of religious tolerance and we trust the Government of India to address the concerns of any people that may be affected by this legislation. Where we have concerns, we will continue to raise them directly with the Government of India.