Asked by: Simon Clarke (Conservative - Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ involvement in the (a) production and (b) provision of armed drones used by Russia in Ukraine.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Iran is now one of Russia's top military backers. The Iranian regime has sent hundreds of drones to Moscow, in violation of UNSCR 2231, which have been used to attack Ukraine's critical infrastructure and kill civilians. The UK has raised this issue alongside partners at the UN Security Council on 19 October and 19 December 2022. The UK adopted new sanctions against Iranian individuals and entities involved in these transfers in October and December. The FCDO will continue to work with partners to hold Iran to account for all of its malign activity.
Asked by: Simon Clarke (Conservative - Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that the Nigerian Government protects (a) religious minorities and (b) the rights of the Igbo people in that country.
Answered by Rory Stewart
This Government is firmly committed to promoting and protecting the right to freedom of religion or belief around the world. Religious freedom is protected by the Nigerian Constitution and we regularly discuss with the Nigerian government, at the highest levels, our concern about threats to this right in Nigeria.
The UK fully supports the territorial integrity of Nigeria and we are committed to working with Nigeria to help tackle threats to national security. We are concerned about violent clashes in Nigeria but we do not assess that there is institutionalised persecution of the Igbo or any other peoples by the Nigerian authorities. We will continue to underline the importance of freedom of expression and the rule of law with all parties, including the Nigerian government.