Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his Iranian counterpart on the jailing of (a) Farajollah Bangaleh and (b) Mitra Badrnejad for practicing their Ba’hai faith; and whether he raised the Iranian authority's treatment of the Ba’hai people on his recent trip to Tehran.
Answered by Alistair Burt
We are particularly concerned by the continuing systematic discrimination, harassment and targeting of the Baha’i community. The British government supports the UN Special Rapporteur’s assessment that discrimination against the Baha’i community in Iran is legally sanctioned by a lack of constitutional recognition and the absence of other legal protections for adherents of this faith. Though we have not raised specifically the cases of Farajollah Bangaleh and Mitra Badrnejad, we have repeatedly expressed concern at the ongoing incarceration, and the shocking sentencing of Baha'i leaders and the wider community in Iran with the Iranian authorities.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on the timing of a national referendum in Libya on the draft permanent constitution of that country of the amendments to the Libyan Constitutional Declaration of 2011, adopted by the Libyan House of Representatives on 26 November 2018.
Answered by Alistair Burt
The UK is actively engaged in efforts to support the UN-led political process in Libya, the objective of which is to facilitate agreement with Libyans on a more inclusive political settlement, which would be the best way of stabilising the country. Constructive engagement by all stakeholders with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General Salamé's Action Plan, including the National Conference, is essential to its success. The sequencing of a constitutional referendum should be decided by the Libyan people. The High National Electoral Commission has said that it will only begin the preparatory process for a referendum once the appropriate political, legal and security conditions have been met. We understand that discussions between the House of Representatives and High State Council on the restructuring of the Presidency Council are ongoing.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of progress on implementing the restructuring of the Libyan Presidential Council, since the adoption of the amendments to the Constitutional Declaration of 2011 by that country's House of Representatives on 26 November 2018.
Answered by Alistair Burt
The UK is actively engaged in efforts to support the UN-led political process in Libya, the objective of which is to facilitate agreement with Libyans on a more inclusive political settlement, which would be the best way of stabilising the country. Constructive engagement by all stakeholders with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General Salamé's Action Plan, including the National Conference, is essential to its success. The sequencing of a constitutional referendum should be decided by the Libyan people. The High National Electoral Commission has said that it will only begin the preparatory process for a referendum once the appropriate political, legal and security conditions have been met. We understand that discussions between the House of Representatives and High State Council on the restructuring of the Presidency Council are ongoing.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what information his Department holds on whether the High National Election Commission of Libya has received legislation passed by the House of Representatives on 24 September 2018 to facilitate a referendum on that country's draft constitution.
Answered by Alistair Burt
It is important that a constitutional referendum enjoys widespread political support across Libya, as well as a sound legal basis. It is for the relevant Libyan authorities to determine the legitimacy of any legislative votes, according to Libyan law. From our diplomatic engagement with Libyan institutions, we are unaware of approved legislation to prepare for a referendum having been formally passed to the High National Electoral Commission. Agreement on a way forward on Libya's Constitution is a key element of the UN Action Plan for Libya, and will be one of the issues we expect to be discussed by the National Conference UN Special Representative Ghassan Salamé intends to convene in Libya in early 2019.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what information his Department holds on whether legislation passed by the Libyan House of Representatives on 24 September 2018 to facilitate a referendum on that country's draft constitution was approved in a vote of that House or a collection of members' signatures.
Answered by Alistair Burt
It is important that a constitutional referendum enjoys widespread political support across Libya, as well as a sound legal basis. It is for the relevant Libyan authorities to determine the legitimacy of any legislative votes, according to Libyan law. From our diplomatic engagement with Libyan institutions, we are unaware of approved legislation to prepare for a referendum having been formally passed to the High National Electoral Commission. Agreement on a way forward on Libya's Constitution is a key element of the UN Action Plan for Libya, and will be one of the issues we expect to be discussed by the National Conference UN Special Representative Ghassan Salamé intends to convene in Libya in early 2019.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for the timing of a national referendum on the draft constitution for Libya of legal disputes regarding legislation passed by the House of Representatives on 24 September 2018 to facilitate such a referendum.
Answered by Alistair Burt
It is important that a constitutional referendum enjoys widespread political support across Libya, as well as a sound legal basis. It is for the relevant Libyan authorities to determine the legitimacy of any legislative votes, according to Libyan law. From our diplomatic engagement with Libyan institutions, we are unaware of approved legislation to prepare for a referendum having been formally passed to the High National Electoral Commission. Agreement on a way forward on Libya's Constitution is a key element of the UN Action Plan for Libya, and will be one of the issues we expect to be discussed by the National Conference UN Special Representative Ghassan Salamé intends to convene in Libya in early 2019.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what estimate he has made of the timescale for a national referendum on the draft constitution for Libya following the passage of legislation to facilitate such a referendum by the House of Representatives on 24 September 2018.
Answered by Alistair Burt
It is important that a constitutional referendum enjoys widespread political support across Libya, as well as a sound legal basis. It is for the relevant Libyan authorities to determine the legitimacy of any legislative votes, according to Libyan law. From our diplomatic engagement with Libyan institutions, we are unaware of approved legislation to prepare for a referendum having been formally passed to the High National Electoral Commission. Agreement on a way forward on Libya's Constitution is a key element of the UN Action Plan for Libya, and will be one of the issues we expect to be discussed by the National Conference UN Special Representative Ghassan Salamé intends to convene in Libya in early 2019.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his counterpart in Tanzania on recent prosecutions of members of that country’s political opposition under the provisions of that country's penal code criminalising speech deemed insulting to the president.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
When I met the Tanzanian Minister for Constitutional and Legal Affairs on 11 October we discussed democracy and political space in Tanzania. On 2 November, following the arrest and detention of an opposition MP, the British High Commission in Dar es Salaam raised the case with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, urging the Tanzanian authorities to follow due process. We have subsequently also raised the case with the Minister of Home Affairs. We will continue to raise publicly and privately our concerns with the Government of Tanzania on developments which threaten democratic values and the rights of all Tanzanians.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Tanzanian counterpart on reducing poaching activity in that country.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
Combatting the Illegal Wildlife Trade, including reducing poaching, was most recently discussed with the Tanzanian Minister for Constitutional and Legal Affairs during the Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference in London on 11 and 12 October 2018. It was also raised by the Secretary of State for International Development when she met the President of Tanzania during her visit to Dar Es Salaam on 9-10 August 2018.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterparts in Tanzania on the integrity of its electoral process since the decision of that country’s main opposition party to suspend participation in future elections.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
On 11 October, I met the Tanzanian Minister for Constitutional and Legal Affairs during the London Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference. Discussions covered democracy in Tanzania. The High Commission in Dar es Salaam in its regular contact with all political parties actively encourages them to engage constructively in political dialogue.