Iran Detainees

David Mundell Excerpts

Wednesday 16th March 2022 Commons Chamber

[Elizabeth Truss]

Of course I will continue to meet the families of detained individuals, and I will continue to work to get those people released from unfair detention.

[David Mundell (Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale) (Con)]

The Foreign Secretary is to be commended for achieving this joyous outcome, but will she join me in commending the thousands of ordinary people across the United Kingdom who do not know Nazanin or Richard or Anoosheh personally but have stood firmly with them throughout all these years, and have kept us MPs honest by pursuing us relentlessly, urging us to raise the issue in Parliament and engage with Richard in his hunger strikes and other efforts? Does that not show that it is always worthwhile for members of the public to engage with an issue, however complex that issue may be?

[Elizabeth Truss]

This issue has touched the hearts of the British public, as we all know from what we have received in our postbags. Who could fail to be moved by the courage and tenacity shown by the families, but also by the suffering that has been undergone by those who have been unfairly detained and those who have been separated from them for so many years? It is clear from the offers of homes for Ukrainian refugees that the British public are big-hearted, and want to see our citizens thrive and to see these families reunited.