Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, what representations have they made to the government of Saudi Arabia regarding Abdulrahman Al-Sadhan, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence in Saudi Arabia on charges relating to his social media activity; and what urgent representations they plan to make, if any, to the government of Saudi Arabia about concerns that he has been incommunicado since October 2021.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We continue to monitor the case of Mr Abdulrahman al-Sadhan. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Ministers and senior officials regularly raise human rights in our engagement with the Saudi authorities. Minister Milling raised concern regarding the death penalty with the Saudi Ambassador on 23 May, and enquired into a specific high-priority case. Lord Ahmad also raised UK concerns about the death penalty with the Saudi Justice Minister on 6 June. We have consistently raised concerns about the use of solitary confinement, lack of family contact and allegations of torture in Saudi Arabia, and stressed the importance of due process.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations the Prime Minister made, if any, to Bahrain’s Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al’Khalida at their meeting on 27 May concerning the Sheikh’s reported implication in the torture of political dissidents in Bahrain.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK Government unreservedly condemns the use of torture. The UK does not participate in, solicit, encourage or condone the use of torture for any purpose. We take allegations or concerns of torture and mistreatment very seriously and will follow up with action, as appropriate.
We urge all allegations of torture or mistreatment to be reported to the appropriate national oversight body whose duty it is to carry out full and independent investigations. We continue to encourage the oversight bodies to carry out swift and thorough investigations into any such claims.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what role, if any, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has with respect to providing advice, support or information regarding the attendance of foreign dignitaries to the Royal Windsor Horse Show.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has not provided advice, support or information regarding the attendance of foreign dignitaries to this year's Royal Windsor Horse Show. Invitations to this annual event are issued by the Royal Household, organised by HPower Group, and attendees join in a private capacity.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what role, if any, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office had in facilitating the attendance of Bahrain's royal family at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has not provided advice regarding the attendance of members of Bahrain's royal family at this year's Royal Windsor Horse Show. Invitations to this annual event are issued by the Royal Household, organised by HPower Group, and attendees join in a private capacity.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government on what date they will publish the 2022 annual Gulf Strategy Fund Programme Summary.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
An annual summary of the Gulf Strategy Fund for 2021/22 will be published on gov.uk. The exact date for publication is yet to be confirmed.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Minister of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on 21 March (138329), on what date will they issue a response to the letter from Human Rights Watch and the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD) dated 14 February.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The reply to the Human Rights Watch/BIRD letter of 14 February 2022 was issued on 15 March.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the pledges in UK Support for Human Rights Defenders, published in July 2019, what representations they will make to the government of Bahrain for the sentence against British national Duaa Alwadaei to be quashed; and whether the British Ambassador to Bahrain will attend her trial on 17 April.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Our Embassy in Bahrain is aware of Mrs Alwadaei's case and is following the situation closely. We have given her family details of the consular assistance available. We understand that Mrs Alwadaei's next hearing will take place on 24 April.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the statement by the United Nations special rapporteurs on 26 January regarding the cases of Jaafar Sultan and Sadiq Majeed Thamer who are on death row in Saudi Arabia, what representations they will make to the government of Saudi Arabia in support of the quashing of their death sentences.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The United Kingdom strongly opposes the death penalty in all countries and in all circumstances, as a matter of principle. The Deputy Prime Minister and Lord Ahmad raised UK concerns about the death penalty, including individual cases, with the Saudi Justice Minister on 25 January. The Prime Minister also raised UK concerns about ongoing human rights issues during his visit to the Kingdom on 16 March. Ministers and senior officials will continue to raise UK concerns about the death penalty with the Saudi authorities.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the intervention by the governments of Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg at the United Nations Human Rights Council on 22 March regarding their concern over Bahraini human rights defenders, what were the most recent dates upon which they raised these cases with their counterparts in Bahrain.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Bahrain is a Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office human rights priority country. Officials and ministers regularly discuss human rights issues and individual cases with senior members of the Government of Bahrain, as well as with the independent human rights oversight bodies. My [Minister of State for South and Central Asia, UN and the Commonwealth, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad] own visit to Bahrain from 13-14 February was such an opportunity.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the conclusions of the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on Bahrain, published on 4 March, what representations they will make to the government of Bahrain to ensure that children in that country receive access to quality education.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We welcome efforts by the Government of Bahrain to provide free education to Bahraini and expatriate children where necessary and subject to existing capacity limitations. We would encourage continuing progress to ensure quality education is available to all.