The Petition of the people of Croydon and its environs,
Declares that ethnic Kurds in Kurdistan do not receive the human rights that they are entitled to expect.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to take steps to liaise with its international partners in the European Union and farther afield to lobby for improved human rights for Kurds in Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran.
And the Petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Mr. Andrew Pelling, Official Report, 24 March 2010; Vol. 508, c. 347.]
[P000777]
Observations from the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs:
The EU, with UK support, has made it clear to the Iranian, Iraqi, Syrian and Turkish authorities that we are deeply concerned by the infringement of the rights of Kurds, including those of journalists, politicians, trade unionists and students. The EU presidency, on behalf of all EU member states, has repeatedly expressed concern about the persecution of Kurdish ethnic minorities and drawn attention to their plight.
The UK remains committed to holding the authorities of these countries to account over the treatment of Kurds and other ethnic minorities and raise these concerns with them at every appropriate opportunity. We also remind all four countries of their obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (particularly articles 26 and 27) on a regular basis.