Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Saudi Arabia: Human Rights Defenders

Tuesday 8 September 2020 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The United Kingdom has a strong relationship with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which allows for important frank discussions.
  • The Foreign Secretary raised concerns about human rights defenders, including the release of detained individuals, during his recent visit to Riyadh.
  • The UK Government acknowledges that Saudi Arabia is taking significant steps in the right direction regarding human rights.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Grahame Morris Lab Easington
Foreign Affairs
Context

The question follows a series of concerns raised by human rights organisations about the detention and trial of women's rights activists in Saudi Arabia. The situation has drawn international attention due to ongoing pressure for accountability and transparency.

Question

What steps the Government are taking to support human rights defenders in Saudi Arabia?

Answer from James Cleverly

The United Kingdom has a strong relationship with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which allows us to have important frank discussions. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised human rights defenders with Saudi Ministers on his recent visit to Riyadh, and I have raised concerns with Dr Awwad, the head of the Saudi human rights commission, as did Lord Ahmad in June.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific public calls for the release of detained activists or dropping charges against those on trial were not made.

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Q2 Grahame Morris Lab Easington
Foreign Affairs
Context

Following previous discussions, the MP is concerned about five women human rights defenders who remain detained and thirteen others currently on trial for peaceful protest. These cases have been highlighted by international organisations as urgent issues requiring action.

Question

I am pleased to hear that the Minister is having robust conversations with the Saudis, but will the UK Government publicly call on the Saudi authorities to immediately and unconditionally release the five women human rights defenders who are still being detained, including Loujain al-Hathloul, Samar Badawi and Nassima al-Sada, and for all charges to be dropped against the 13 women's rights defenders currently on trial for peaceful protest and activism?

Answer from James Cleverly

It is important that we recognise that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is taking significant steps in the right direction, and we encourage and support it to do so. The Foreign Secretary raised the release of those human rights defenders face-to-face on his visit to Riyadh just last month.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific public call for immediate unconditional release and dropping charges was not directly addressed.

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