Refugees in Sri Lanka

Stephen Kerr Excerpts
Thursday 9th May 2019

(4 years, 11 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Mark Field Portrait Mark Field
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I am happy to reassure the hon. Gentleman that when there is a well-founded case for refugee and asylum status, there should be no question of that.

Stephen Kerr Portrait Stephen Kerr (Stirling) (Con)
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It is easy to find compassion for people who were persecuted, left Pakistan, came to Sri Lanka and now face further persecution. Will the Minister confirm that he will stand up for the Ahmadis, who have been through so much, and is there anything practical that the international community can do to help the Sri Lankan authorities on the ground?

Mark Field Portrait Mark Field
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I hope that I have explained in some detail what we are doing on the ground, but my hon. Friend is absolutely right, and we will do all that we can. The plight of the Ahmadis, which is a global plight, is close to our hearts. As my hon. Friend probably knows, Lord Ahmad himself is an Ahmadi Muslim.