Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

British Nationals Detained Overseas

Tuesday 18 July 2023 · 3 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 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Vicky Foxcroft expressed concern about Alaa Abd El-Fattah's health and imprisonment in Egypt, with family members present in the Gallery.
  • The Minister affirmed the Government's commitment to making efforts in engaging with Egyptian authorities regarding El-Fattah's case.
  • The Minister stated that the Government takes all cases of British nationals detained abroad very seriously and acknowledges the challenges involved.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Vicky Foxcroft Lab Lewisham North
Foreign Affairs
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.

Question

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?

Answer from David Rutley

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific commitment to make a statement at the upcoming UN Human Rights Council session was not given

How: I Recognise The Hon. Lady'S Concern And Sincere Commitment, The Government Continue To Make Every Effort

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Q2 Vicky Foxcroft Lab Lewisham North
Foreign Affairs
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.

Question

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?

Answer from David Rutley

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.

Not addressed: Specific commitment to make a statement at the upcoming UN Human Rights Council session was not given

How: I Do Not Really Understand The Tone Of The Question, Sincere Efforts, In Extraordinarily Difficult Circumstances

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Q3 Catherine West Lab Hornsey and Friern Barnet
Foreign Affairs
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.

Question

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?

Answer from David Rutley

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.

Not addressed: Specific agreement on consular assistance as a right was not given

How: I Do Not Really Understand The Tone Of The Question, Sincere Efforts, In Extraordinarily Difficult Circumstances

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