Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Kilburn)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what criteria her Department uses to assess whether to refer a case to be handled by the Special Cases team in her Consular Department; and whether those criteria are publicly available.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Every request for consular assistance is discussed internally and allocated to the relevant consular official or team depending on a variety of factors. Our approach to complex case work is judged on a case-by-case basis and we will always act in the way that we judge is most likely to be in the best interests of the affected individual and their family.
Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Kilburn)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government takes to exercise its obligations under the Convention Against Torture where British citizens are being tortured abroad.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The UK Government unreservedly condemns the use of torture. It is an abhorrent violation of human rights and human dignity. Its impact on societies and individuals is devastating. We take all allegations or concerns of torture and mistreatment of British nationals overseas very seriously and will follow up with action appropriate to the circumstances of the case. Preventing torture and tackling impunity for those who torture are essential components of safeguarding our security and are integral to a fair legal system and the rule of law. We continue to actively contribute to international efforts to prevent torture globally, working with organisations such as Association for the Prevention of Torture and Reprieve.
Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Kilburn)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department takes to help protect British citizens from torture abroad once such torture is alleged.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The FCDO aims to assess the needs of all individuals promptly and provide effective assistance based on their individual circumstances and local conditions. The FCDO considers that someone is vulnerable when they cannot protect themselves from significant physical or emotional harm, or be protected by others. There are many types of consular cases involving British nationals which we would almost always treat as vulnerable. This includes where an individual alleges torture and mistreatment.
We take all allegations or concerns of torture and mistreatment very seriously and will follow up with action appropriate to the circumstances of the case.
Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Kilburn)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether consular cases where a UK citizen is being tortured or is at risk of torture are treated differently to other consular cases; and in what way they differ.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The FCDO aims to assess the needs of all individuals promptly and provide effective assistance based on their individual circumstances and local conditions. The FCDO considers that someone is vulnerable when they cannot protect themselves from significant physical or emotional harm, or be protected by others. There are many types of consular cases involving British nationals which we would almost always treat as vulnerable. This includes where an individual alleges torture and mistreatment.
We take all allegations or concerns of torture and mistreatment very seriously and will follow up with action appropriate to the circumstances of the case.
Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Kilburn)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department took between October 2021 to March 2022 to (a) challenge the convictions of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe by the Iranian Revolutionary Courts and (b) demand that those convictions be annulled by Iran.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
Despite multiple requests, officials have not been granted access by the Iranian Authorities to visit detained dual British nationals or to attend their trials. Iran does not recognise dual nationality nor grant consular access to our dual national detainees. Although we have never been granted either consular access or sight of the judicial process, our Ambassador in Tehran has consistently requested consular access alongside raising health concerns and mistreatment allegations. FCDO negotiators held intensive discussions with senior Iranian officials and our Ambassador in Tehran has been in regular talks with Iranian Ministers and senior officials. It was always entirely in Iran's gift to release Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe and the UK does not, and never will, accept our nationals being used as diplomatic leverage.
Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Kilburn)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she intends to amend her Department's travel advice for Iran to make explicit mention of the risk of torture.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Travel Advice provides information to help British nationals make informed decisions about foreign travel. It remains under constant review to ensure the advice reflects our latest assessment of risks to British nationals.
FCDO travel advice for Iran (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/iran) advises British-Iranian dual nationals against all travel to Iran. It states that there is 'a risk that British nationals could be arrested without clear cause, questioned by the security services or arbitrarily detained' and there is 'a significantly higher risk to British-Iranian dual nationals.' Advice further states that 'In all cases of detention in Iran, the FCDO has serious concerns that the subsequent judicial process falls below international standards'.
Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Kilburn)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department has taken to hold Iran to account following Iran reneging on its agreement to keep Morad Tahbaz out on furlough; and whether the Government has requested that any restrictions be imposed on Iran's access to IMS funds as a result.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The Iranian Government committed to releasing Morad from prison on indefinite furlough and has failed to honour that commitment. Continuing his horrendous ordeal sends a clear message to the international community that Iran does not honour its commitments. We continue to urge the Iranian authorities at every opportunity to release him immediately. Morad is a tri-national and we are working closely with the United States to secure his permanent release and departure from Iran.
Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Kilburn)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the British Embassy in Tehran has made an assessment of the potential merits of making monthly visits to Evin Prison to (a) meet with the Judiciary and (b) check on the welfare and legal status of detained UK citizens.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
Since the reopening of the UK Embassy in Tehran in 2015, despite multiple requests, officials have not been granted access by the Iranian Authorities to visit detained dual British nationals or to attend their trials. Iran does not recognise dual nationality nor grant consular access to our dual national detainees. We have repeatedly pressed, and will continue to press, for consular access and appropriate medical care. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office provides a range of assistance to British nationals detained in Iran and their families. We regularly lobby the Iranians on health concerns and mistreatment allegations - and for the immediate and permanent release of all unfairly detained dual British nationals in Iran.
Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Kilburn)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many times someone from the British Embassy in Tehran has physically visited Evin Prison since September 201; and whether those people have been able to meet with detained British citizens on such visits.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
Since the reopening of the UK Embassy in Tehran in 2015, despite multiple requests, officials have not been granted access by the Iranian Authorities to visit detained dual British nationals or to attend their trials. Iran does not recognise dual nationality nor grant consular access to our dual national detainees. We have repeatedly pressed, and will continue to press, for consular access and appropriate medical care. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office provides a range of assistance to British nationals detained in Iran and their families. We regularly lobby the Iranians on health concerns and mistreatment allegations - and for the immediate and permanent release of all unfairly detained dual British nationals in Iran.