Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment the Government has made of the validity of the reported statement by the Government of Qatar denying communications with Bahraini political opposition leader Sheikh Ali Salman.

The Rt Hon. member will have seen my statement of 4 November where I expressed my concerns on the further sentencing of Sheikh Ali Salman. I understand that he now has a further opportunity of appeal.

The UK has raised this case at senior levels with the Government of Bahrain. Most recently, I discussed my concerns on the sentencing with the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the Court of St James’ on 5 November. We will continue to closely monitor the case as it makes its way through the judicial system. Should we have concerns we will raise them at an appropriately senior level with the Government of Bahrain.

It would be inappropriate for me to comment on statements by the State of Qatar concerning the Kingdom of Bahrain.