Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to reports that imprisoned human rights defender Abdulhadi AlKhawaja is facing a series of new criminal charges in Bahrain as a result of his protest activities from within prison, what representations they will make to the government of that country (1) to raise concerns over any such action, and (2) to call for AlKhawaja’s immediate and unconditional release.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK continues to follow developments on matters that relate to human rights within Bahrain, including Al Khawaja's case. Our close and long-standing ties with Bahrain allow UK Ministers and senior officials to raise sensitive human rights issues, including cases, regularly, privately and effectively. Most recently the Foreign Secretary met with his Bahraini counterpart during the IISS Manama Dialogue in November 2022, where human rights was raised amongst other issues.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 24 November (HL Deb cols 1544–50), in which he said that they engage “effectively with civil society” in Bahrain, whether they will list the names of civil society actors in Bahrain with which they have engaged during the last 24 months.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK Government continues work to maintain and develop relationships with civil society, including non-governmental organizations within Bahrain and internationally. This ensures that HMG draws on a wide range of sources regarding human rights issues in Bahrain. It would be inappropriate to publish a list of civil society actors with whom we engage.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 24 November (HL Deb cols 1544–50) that “media freedom across the Gulf…is very limited”, and the Reporters Without Borders 2022 Press Freedom Index which ranked Bahrain 167 out of 180 countries for press freedom, what representations they have made to the government of Bahrain in support of greater media freedom in that country.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
On 7 November 2022, during Bahrain's Universal Periodic Review, the UK's formal statement included a recommendation that Bahrain moves quickly to pass the Journalism and E-Media Law, to ensure stronger protections for journalists and enhance wider media freedoms.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 24 November (HL Deb cols 1544–50), in which he said that “there are clear areas where inequalities exist” in Bahrain including that “Bahraini women cannot pass on their nationality to their children”, what steps they are taking to address these issues.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
On 7 November 2022, during Bahrain's Universal Periodic Review, the UK's formal statement included a recommendation that Bahrain amends its nationality laws so that Bahraini women married to foreigners can transmit Bahraini citizenship to their children.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer from Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 9 November (HL2934), when were the last five occasions they raised the case of Mohammed Ramadhan with the government of Bahrain; what was the job title of the UK representative who raised the case; and what was the job title of the Bahraini representative or authority with whom the case was raised.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the noble Lord to my answers to HL2556 of 26 October and HL2934 of 9 November. The UK's long-standing policy is to oppose the death penalty in all circumstances, in all countries, as a matter of principle, which we have made clear on a regular basis to the Government of Bahrain. This includes regarding the case of Mohammed Ramadhan and others.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Overseas Security and Justice Assistance Guidance, published on 26 January 2017, on what dates in (1) 2021, and (2) 2022, they sought an assurance from the government of Bahrain that the practice of the death penalty would no longer be carried out; and why they continue to provide funding to the government of Bahrain despite the death penalty still being in place in that country.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the noble Lord to my replies to HL2553 of 26 October and HL2983 of 10 November. The UK's long-standing policy is to oppose the death penalty in all circumstances, in all countries, as a matter of principle, which we have made clear on a regular basis to the Government of Bahrain.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 26 October (HL2553) that confirms that they are opposed to the death penalty as part of conducting the Overseas, Security and Justice Assistance assessments for 2020–21, when they sought an assurance from the government of Bahrain that the practice of the death penalty would no longer be carried out.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the noble Lord to my answer to HL2553 on 26 October. https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2022-10-12/hl2553 The UK's long-standing policy is to oppose the death penalty in all circumstances, in all countries, as a matter of principle, which we have made clear on a regular basis to the Government of Bahrain.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 26 October (HL2556), in which they confirmed that they are opposed the use of the death penalty in Bahrain, when were the last five occasions they raised the case of Mohammed Ramadhan with the government of Bahrain; what was the title of the UK representative who raised the case; and what was the title of the Bahraini representative or authority with whom the case was raised.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK's long-standing policy is to oppose the death penalty in all circumstances, in all countries, as a matter of principle, which we have made clear on a regular basis to the Government of Bahrain. This includes regarding the case of Mohammed Ramadhan and others.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will clarify the remarks made by the Foreign Secretary on 26 October, where he stated that LGBT+ England football fans visiting the World Cup in Qatar "should show a little bit of flex and compromise".
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Staff from our Embassy provided consular support to two British nationals following an incident in Doha on 25 October.
Ministers and senior officials have raised the concerns of LGBT+ visitors to the World Cup with Qatari authorities at all levels, and will continue to engage on this issue ahead of the World Cup. They have repeatedly committed that "everybody is welcome". We will continue to encourage equal treatment and the respect of individual rights, and identify what action the Qatari authorities are taking to match their commitment.
LGBT+ rights is an issue that the UK prioritises internationally. We continue to engage with governments around the world to promote human rights and champion UK values.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they will make to (1) FIFA, and (2) the government of Qatar, about (a) the detaining of Peter Tatchell while peacefully protesting in Doha, and (b) the lack of LGBT+ rights in Qatar.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Staff from our Embassy provided consular support to two British nationals following an incident in Doha on 25 October.
Ministers and senior officials have raised the concerns of LGBT+ visitors to the World Cup with Qatari authorities at all levels, and will continue to engage on this issue ahead of the World Cup. They have repeatedly committed that "everybody is welcome". We will continue to encourage equal treatment and the respect of individual rights, and identify what action the Qatari authorities are taking to match their commitment.
LGBT+ rights is an issue that the UK prioritises internationally. We continue to engage with governments around the world to promote human rights and champion UK values.