Oral Answers to Questions

Iain Duncan Smith Excerpts

Tuesday 27th October 2026 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Doughty]

I can confirm that, most recently, the Foreign Secretary raised Mr Johal’s case with his Indian counterpart on 24 September at the UN General Assembly. I will be very clear: we recognise the immense toll that nine years in detention have taken on Mr Johal and his family, and I thank my hon. Friend for his advocacy for his constituent. His release on bail is a welcome development, but we recognise that eight cases remain outstanding, and it is crucial that those processes are resolved as quickly as possible within India’s independent legal system. We consistently raise concerns about his case at every appropriate opportunity.

[Sir Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green) (Con)]

British citizens Ryan Cornelius and his partner have now been detained for 18—nearly 19—years, without due process, by the United Arab Emirates. The reality is that the UAE supports a huge amount of terrorism in Sudan, where it is responsible for huge loss of life. To make matters worse, it has nominated Lana Nusseibeh of the UAE to be UN Secretary-General. Apart from demanding the release of Ryan Cornelius and his partner, will the hon. Gentleman condemn the UAE for its brutal involvement in Sudan, and block its nominee for Secretary-General, who should never be allowed to take over the UN?

[Stephen Doughty]

As the right hon. Member knows, I take the case of Ryan Cornelius and Charles Ridley very seriously, as I do any of the other related cases. I have raised that case with the UAE at a high level, and I will continue to do so. Indeed, I have discussed it with our envoy, Alistair Burt, and I am very happy to discuss it further with him.

On Sudan, as the right hon. Member knows, the international community, including this country, must do more to tackle that crisis. Yesterday, my hon. Friend the Member for Bridgend announced further sanctions against suspected perpetrators of sexual violence and other atrocities, including in El-Fasher. We continue to raise concerns with all the countries that are in any way involved in that conflict to urge them to de-escalate, stop arms supplies and bring peace to Sudan.