Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his Emirati counterpart on (a) the health of Mohammed al-Roken in response to the covid-19 pandemic and (b) his unconditional release upon completion of his full sentence on 17 July 2022.

We are aware of reports concerning the detention of Mohammed al-Roken. The UK urges all countries to comply with their human rights obligations. Our close relationship with the United Arab Emirates allows us to discuss important issues such as human rights. We consistently underline the importance of political freedoms globally. This includes respect for the right to peaceful protest, the rule of law, and freedom of speech, the press, and assembly. Where the UK has cause for concern, we raise these concerns at official and Ministerial level.