Asked by: Toby Perkins (Labour - Chesterfield)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the people responsible for atrocities in Syria are held to account.
Answered by James Cleverly - Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
The UK remains steadfast in our pursuit for accountability for atrocities committed in Syria. We co-sponsored the UN General Assembly resolution which established the UN International Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM), and we have contributed £1.2 million to support the mechanism so far.
We have supported the Commission for International Justice and Accountability to collect evidence and build cases for prosecution of perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity. These efforts have played a critical role in achieving the first conviction of a former member of Daesh, and the first court ruling worldwide over state-sponsored torture by the Assad regime in Koblenz, convicting Eyad al-Gharib for complicity in crimes against humanity in Syria.
We have contributed over £13 million since 2012 in support of Syrian and international efforts to gather evidence and assist victims of human rights abuses and violations. The UK drafts the UN Human Rights Council resolution on Syria, which was adopted in March, at the 46th Human Rights Council session. On 15 March, the UK announced six new sanctions; sending a clear message to the Assad regime: the UK will not stand by whilst the Regime and its backers continue to commit heinous crimes against the Syrian people.
Asked by: Toby Perkins (Labour - Chesterfield)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the political and security situation in Syria.
Answered by James Cleverly - Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
Ten years of conflict has exacted a heavy toll on Syria and continues to have a destabilising impact on the region. Humanitarian access must be maintained through the renewal of UNSCR 2533, which provides vital cross-border aid access from Turkey into Syria, later this year.
We welcome that the ceasefires in the North East and North West are broadly holding, but are concerned by reports of Russian and regime airstrikes in the North West. Where the ceasefires are under pressure, we urge all parties to increase their efforts to adhere to them. There also remains a continued threat from Daesh and we will work the Global Coalition to counter further violent extremism.
We believe UNSCR 2254 offers a clear path out of the conflict. We must hold the regime accountable for its crimes, and we remain committed to alleviating the terrible cost of this war on Syrians.
Asked by: Toby Perkins (Labour - Chesterfield)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the Sri Lankan authorities in permitting the rights of the Tamil community to engage in peaceful protest in that country.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The UK Government is aware of the recent demonstrations that took place in the northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka, and is concerned at reports of intimidating behaviour experienced by some demonstrators. Officials from the British High Commission in Colombo will continue to monitor closely events linked to the right to peaceful protest.
Asked by: Toby Perkins (Labour - Chesterfield)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department plans to take to help ensure that the international community (a) upholds the rights of Tamils living in Sri Lanka and (b) ensures that Tamils are not subject to (i) prosecution and (ii) state harassment in the event that they engage in peaceful protests in that country.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The UK is working closely with international partners on a new resolution on Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council. This resolution will provide a framework for continued international engagement on human rights and post-conflict accountability in Sri Lanka. The resolution will highlight concerns about the protection of minorities, and will call on the Government of Sri Lanka to ensure that the human rights of people in all of its communities are protected.
The Minister of State for South Asia and Minister responsible for Human Rights, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, has raised the importance of protecting the rights of all communities, including minority groups, on several occasions with the Sri Lankan High Commissioner and Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, most recently during calls on 9 February and 22 January respectively. We will continue to engage with the Government of Sri Lanka to underline the importance we attach to this issue.
Officials from the British High Commission in Colombo will continue to monitor closely events linked to the right to peaceful protest.
Asked by: Toby Perkins (Labour - Chesterfield)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has taken steps to condemn the Government of Iran for reportedly plotting to bomb an Iranian opposition rally attended by British citizens in Paris in 2018.
Answered by James Cleverly - Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
We are aware of the ongoing trial of four Iranians in Belgium in relation to the 2018 plot against a conference in Paris. We are deeply concerned by reports that an Iranian diplomat is one of those standing trial in connection with the incident. While the legal process is ongoing, however, it would be inappropriate to comment further and we have not made specific representations to the Iranian Government. The UK strongly condemns the targeting of civilians and welcomes steps taken to hold those responsible to account. We continue to work closely with our European partners on security and counter-terrorism issues. We are not aware at this stage of a link to the UK.
Asked by: Toby Perkins (Labour - Chesterfield)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his counterpart in Iran on allegations that country intended to bomb an Iranian opposition party rally in Paris in 2018.
Answered by James Cleverly - Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
We are aware of the ongoing trial of four Iranians in Belgium in relation to the 2018 plot against a conference in Paris. We are deeply concerned by reports that an Iranian diplomat is one of those standing trial in connection with the incident. While the legal process is ongoing, however, it would be inappropriate to comment further and we have not made specific representations to the Iranian Government. The UK strongly condemns the targeting of civilians and welcomes steps taken to hold those responsible to account. We continue to work closely with our European partners on security and counter-terrorism issues. We are not aware at this stage of a link to the UK.
Asked by: Toby Perkins (Labour - Chesterfield)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department has classified Mr Hasan Mushaima as a prisoner of conscience.
Answered by Alistair Burt
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and our Embassy in Bahrain continue to follow the case of Hasan Mushaima closely. The UK understands that Mr Mushaima has been tried and found guilty by a court of law and has exhausted his rights of appeal under the constitution of his home country.
Asked by: Toby Perkins (Labour - Chesterfield)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the Fifth Report of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Session 2014–15, Support for British nationals abroad: The Consular Service, HC 516, what recommendations from the section of that report on deaths abroad have been implemented.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin - Shadow Minister (Business and Trade)
We have made changes in response to both the 2014 Foreign Affairs Committee report and the FCO's own internal review (which was also carried out in 2014). Most notably, the FCO created a dedicated team to handle Murder and Manslaughter cases. Since its creation in 2015, this team has supported over 200 families. We continue to regularly review our consular policy to ensure we are supporting the most vulnerable.
Asked by: Toby Perkins (Labour - Chesterfield)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the number of people executed in each country by the government of that country in each year since 2010.
Answered by Mark Field
The UK opposes the death penalty in all circumstances and we make our opposition well known at the highest levels to countries which continue to apply it. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office works closely with leading human rights organisations to promote abolition of the death penalty globally. The FCO draws on data from Amnesty International which reports on the numbers of executions worldwide in a series of Annual Reports on the Death penalty, available at its website: www.amnesty.org
Asked by: Toby Perkins (Labour - Chesterfield)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which EU member states will (a) allow and (b) not allow Maryam Rajavi to visit.
Answered by Alistair Burt
It is for each individual EU Member State to answer this question, not the responsibility of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.