British Nationals Detained Overseas 2023-07-18
2023-07-18
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
More than 100 MPs wrote to the Foreign Secretary regarding Alaa Abd El-Fattah, a detainee in Egypt facing severe health risks due to hunger strikes and poor conditions. Family members of Alaa are present in the Gallery.
More than 100 other MPs and I wrote to the Foreign Secretary expressing our concern about Alaa Abd El-Fattah, who has been perilously close to death because of hunger and water strikes, and remains imprisoned in Egypt, in awful conditions. Members of Alaa's family are in the Gallery today, hoping for a positive update. Will the Foreign Secretary commit to making a statement at the upcoming session of the UN Human Rights Council in September to condemn Alaa's imprisonment by the Egyptian Government?
I recognise the hon. Lady's concern and sincere commitment to this important case, and I am pleased that she has raised it today. The Government continue to make every effort in our engagement with the Egyptian authorities on Mr El-Fattah's case. We remain concerned about his welfare, and are pressing for consular access and his release. We continue to provide consular support to Mr El-Fattah and to his family, whom Lord Ahmad most recently met on 6 July. The Foreign Secretary has raised Mr El-Fattah's case on several occasions with the Egyptian Foreign Minister, most recently on 2 March.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific commitment to make a statement at the upcoming UN Human Rights Council session was not given
I Recognise The Hon. Lady'S Concern And Sincere Commitment
The Government Continue To Make Every Effort
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
More than 100 MPs wrote to the Foreign Secretary regarding Alaa Abd El-Fattah, a detainee in Egypt facing severe health risks due to hunger strikes and poor conditions. Family members of Alaa are present in the Gallery.
Members of Alaa's family are here today hoping for a positive update. Will the Government commit to making a statement at the upcoming session of the UN Human Rights Council in September to condemn Alaa's imprisonment by the Egyptian Government?
We take all these cases incredibly seriously. They are very challenging. I do not really understand the tone of the question, because my interactions with Opposition Front-Bench and other colleagues reflect the sincere efforts, in extraordinarily difficult circumstances, to help in all the cases that the hon. Lady raises.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific commitment to make a statement at the upcoming UN Human Rights Council session was not given
I Do Not Really Understand The Tone Of The Question
Sincere Efforts, In Extraordinarily Difficult Circumstances
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
Families of several high-profile British citizens, such as Jagtar Singh Johal, Alaa Abd El-Fattah, Morad Tahbaz, Mehran Raoof, and Jimmy Lai, have criticized the Government's weak, complacent and inconsistent record in supporting their cases.
Jagtar Singh Johal, Alaa Abd El-Fattah, Morad Tahbaz, Mehran Raoof and Jimmy Lai are all high-profile British citizens detained abroad. Families of these individuals severely criticised the Government's weak, complacent and inconsistent record in supporting them. Does the Minister agree with us that consular assistance should be a right of British citizens, not based on the whims of Ministers?
We take all these cases incredibly seriously. They are very challenging. I do not really understand the tone of the question, because my interactions with Opposition Front-Bench and other colleagues reflect the sincere efforts, in extraordinarily difficult circumstances, to help in all the cases that the hon. Lady raises.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific agreement on consular assistance as a right was not given
I Do Not Really Understand The Tone Of The Question
Sincere Efforts, In Extraordinarily Difficult Circumstances
Response accuracy