Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions (a) she and (b) officials in her Department have had with Emirati counterparts on the treatment, welfare and release of Emirati prisoners of conscience, including academic, Dr Nasser bin Ghaith, human rights defender, Ahmed Mansoor and human rights lawyer, Mohammed al-Roken.

We are aware the cases of Ahmed Mansoor, Dr Nasser bin Ghaith and Mohammed al-Roken and the allegations of human rights abuses against them.  Officials have raised such cases with the Emirati authorities, including with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ambassador in London. We encourage all states, including the UAE, to uphold international human rights obligations.