Iran: Protests
Debate between Baroness Chapman of Darlington and Lord Singh of Wimbledon
Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)
Do you know what: the noble Baroness is right about this. Because we have been unable to gain access for journalists, citizen journalism has become all that we have, and the reports that have been able to be shared have been vital in alerting the world to what is going on. That can be said for very many of these precarious locations and places where it is difficult to gain access. The extent to which I am prepared to stand here and thank Elon Musk for anything is a different question, but I agree with her about the vital role that social media has played.
Lord Singh of Wimbledon (CB)
My Lords, to go back to the original Question, it is difficult to get President Trump’s support for international law when he is on record as saying that he does not agree with international law. Will the Minister try to ensure that no attempt is made to try to install the son of the disgraced ruler of Iran, whose behaviour led to the influx of the present regime, and instead give support to the National Council of Resistance of Iran, led by Madame Rajavi? She has a 10-point plan for democratic rule, free from religious interference and with equal rights for women, which is very important when we remember that one of the present rulers in the current regime said that women have smaller brains than men.
Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)
That is the noble Lord’s view of what should happen next in Iran. The UK Government’s view is that the future of Iran and its leadership should be firmly in the hands of the people of Iran.
Venezuela
Debate between Baroness Chapman of Darlington and Lord Singh of Wimbledon
Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)
The United Kingdom’s support for international law and for human rights is unwavering and has not changed. The actions of the United States are for the United States to explain, and that includes how it sits in relation to international law.
Lord Singh of Wimbledon (CB)
My Lords, does the Minister agree that the American action against Venezuela is reminiscent of the school playground, where the leader of our gang, to whom we have pledged loyalty, begins to act like the school bully?
Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)
No. In all of this, I think the thing that matters most and that is often lost in these exchanges is that the people of Venezuela have been badly served and abused for many years. They deserve a Government who put them first, and they have not had that. We have not had a legitimate Government in Venezuela for some time; there is the prospect of that happening. I think it is a good thing that Nicolás Maduro is no longer responsible for running Venezuela.
South Sudan
Debate between Baroness Chapman of Darlington and Lord Singh of Wimbledon
Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)
This really matters, and it is good that there is regional leadership to help try to improve the situation. There is no lasting answer to this that does not involve regional and national leadership, which is why we are insistent that the humanitarian and peacekeeping work goes alongside the work on democracy and inclusivity that will, in the end, be what makes the peace in South Sudan. We need a full return to the power-sharing agreement to make sure that the situation can be improved, because in the end, it is the people of South Sudan who suffer the worst of this.
Lord Singh of Wimbledon (CB)
My Lords, does the Minister agree that if we really want to help people in places such as South Sudan escape horrendous conflict and suffering, we need to do something about the runaway arms trade, in which arms are sold to friendly countries and then go on to other countries for crude economic gain? For example, India—the land of Mahatma Gandhi—sells arms to Russia; Russia, in turn, sells arms to Pakistan, again with the possibility of conflict.
Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)
We have a very strict regime about arms sales, which includes measures that prevent and rule against diversion. We also keep these things incredibly closely monitored. Noble Lords will know that there is a UN embargo in respect of South Sudan, which we support. I commit to noble Lords that we will continue to work to make sure that our regime is as tightly managed and robust as it can be.
Israel: Royal College of Defence Studies
Debate between Baroness Chapman of Darlington and Lord Singh of Wimbledon(3 months, 4 weeks ago)
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Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)
We are taking all the measures that we have discussed on many occasions in this place, including sanctions on members of the Israeli Cabinet. Noble Lords will know that the United Nations General Assembly meets next week, and it has been the announced intention of the United Kingdom Government to consider recognising the state of Palestine at that event.
Lord Singh of Wimbledon (CB)
My Lords, a UN report has found clear evidence of Israeli genocide in Gaza. There is also a campaign of terror by Israelis in the West Bank against Palestinians. Would the Minister agree that the Government of a country that carries out such atrocities should be unequivocally condemned rather than supported in their mission?
Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)
I fundamentally disagree with politicians unilaterally declaring genocide anywhere. For genocide to mean anything, it must be protected as designated by a competent court. However much political pressure there is, or whatever our views might be, it really matters that we maintain that. As soon as you start ascribing genocide as a political act, then it becomes meaningless. We have to be very clear that that is a decision to be made by a court.
To be clear, though, this decision about the RCDS is not a reaction around international humanitarian law. It is because we are so deeply concerned; in a sense it is a diplomatic act. We hope that it is one that is noticed, and that it has some effect on the Government of Israel. We want this to result in a change of course by the Government of Israel. This is all about making sure that people in Gaza can be fed, get the medical interventions that they need and have the safety that they need. We want the hostages released immediately and we need ceasefire negotiations to resume.
India: Minorities
Debate between Baroness Chapman of Darlington and Lord Singh of Wimbledon
Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)
I would also add the Dalit community to that list. This is obviously a concern. There is no room for conversion laws—that is not something that we want to see, and it is a concern in terms of human rights. As I have said when other issues of concern have been raised, we will continue to raise these as appropriate, usually in private with the Government of India.
Lord Singh of Wimbledon (CB)
My Lord, it is right that we criticise the treatment of minorities in India, where a historic mosque was demolished to build a Hindu temple, where the Home Minister describes Muslims as “termites” and where a young British Sikh has been detained and tortured for years. But does the Minister agree that our condemnation would carry far more weight if we were seen to treat non-Abrahamic communities fairly in this country? The Casey report of 2016 gave numerous examples of hate crime against Christians, Jews and Muslims, but no mention of non- Abrahamic faiths. We now talk of additional protection and funding against antisemitism and Islamophobia, again ignoring the suffering of non-Abrahamic faiths. I must declare an interest: I speak as a Sikh, believing in the equal treatment of people of all faiths and beliefs.
Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)
I do not think that there is anybody in this House who would not agree that we should—and do—believe in the equal treatment of all people of all faiths and beliefs. This is fundamental to who we are. We have laws that support this, and the vast majority of people in this country support that too. Where we fall short or where there are problems in our communities or at high-profile events, there are steps that could and should be taken, and this Government support that.
International Aid Workers: Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories
Debate between Baroness Chapman of Darlington and Lord Singh of Wimbledon(1 year, 1 month ago)
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Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)
As the noble Lord should know—perhaps his noble friend might like to remind him—UNRWA is the only viable way to get aid into Gaza at the scale that is needed now. We understand the concerns of the Israeli Government, which were investigated. We resumed funding because we have an approaching crisis; many thousands of people are about to lose their lives unless aid gets into Gaza.
Lord Singh of Wimbledon (CB)
My Lords, the United Nations aid agencies, the International Criminal Court and human rights organisations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch all say that what is happening in Gaza and the West Bank is genocide. The Pope says it is genocide. In the circumstances, does the Minister agree that to talk of humanitarian aid while supplying weapons to assist in the genocide is nothing short of hypocrisy?
Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)
My Lords, I am very careful about the use of the word “genocide”. It is not a word that should be bandied around by any politician. Genocide is for a court to determine. That has not happened, and unless and until it does, I will not refer to this as genocide.