Tag: The Lord Bishop of Coventry

The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Lord Bishop of Coventry on 2016-04-12.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what conversations they have had with other members of the UN Security Council about referring the actions of Daesh against religious and ethnic minorities in Iraq to the International Criminal Court for further investigation.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

We condemn in the strongest terms the targeting and persecution of Yezidis, Christians and other communities by Daesh. We continue to urge the Government of Iraq to do all it can to ensure the security and rights of all communities in Iraq.

We are working with international partners, including members of the UN Security Council, to look at all options to ensure accountability for human rights abuses and violations committed in Iraq.

Although the UN Security Council can refer situations to the International Criminal Court Prosecutor for investigation, we believe that any decision on further investigations must be made on the basis of what will be the most effective means of bringing perpetrators of atrocities to justice.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Lord Bishop of Coventry on 2016-04-12.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assistance, if any, they have provided to the government of Iraq to document and investigate reports of missing persons.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

We have funded a project to support the victims of Daesh’s persecution and help them pursue justice. We will continue to look at all options to ensure accountability for human rights abuses and violations committed in Iraq. We have not provided any direct support to the Government of Iraq in relation to investigating reports of missing persons.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Lord Bishop of Coventry on 2016-04-12.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assurances they have sought from, and been given by, the government of Iraq that Iraqi security forces and affiliated militias involved in counter-Daesh efforts abide by international humanitarian law and are held accountable for any violations thereof.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

We consistently underline with the Government of Iraq and Kurdistan Regional Government the importance of ensuring that all security forces respect International Humanitarian Law, human rights and fundamental freedoms.

We are concerned by reports alleging that the Iraqi Security Forces, Kurdish Security Forces, Iraqi Popular Mobilisation Forces and militias have committed human rights abuses and violations.

Iraqi Prime Minister Abadi has committed to investigating allegations of human rights abuses and violations and holding those responsible to account. He has also consistently intervened in security operations to prevent civilian casualties and damage to property.

The Kurdistan Regional Government has undertaken to investigate all allegations made against Kurdish Security Forces. The Kurdistan Regional President Masoud Barzani has recently issued a decree which emphasised the importance of the Kurdish Peshmerga abiding by international and national legal principles.

We will continue to call on states and non-state actors engaged in armed conflict to respect International Humanitarian Law and act in accordance to their obligations under it.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Lord Bishop of Coventry on 2016-07-14.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the current level of violence against Hindus in Pakistan.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

We remain concerned by ongoing reports of the persecution of the Hindu community in Pakistan. These include incidents of abduction, forced conversion and the forced marriage of Hindu women to Muslim men. We regularly raise our concerns about the treatment of religious minorities, including Hindus, with the Government of Pakistan. The former Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), pressed Pakistan to guarantee the rights of all its citizens, including minority religious communities, during his visit to Islamabad in March. We continue to urge Pakistan to honour in practice its human rights obligations, including on freedom of religion or belief, and to uphold the rule of law.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Lord Bishop of Coventry on 2016-07-14.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the human rights situation in Bangladesh, especially in relation to the right to freedom of religion or belief.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

Our assessment is that the rise in extremist attacks has increased pressure on religious minorities, including Hindus, in Bangladesh.

The former Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), most recently talked to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh about the importance of countering extremism in the margins of the G7 meeting in Japan on 27 May. The former Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), raised this with Foreign Minister Ali on 5 July. The British High Commissioner regularly discusses these issues with Bangladesh government ministers.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Lord Bishop of Coventry on 2016-07-14.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Bangladesh about human rights violations against Hindus and bringing to justice those responsible for the destruction of temples and other places of worship.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

Our assessment is that the rise in extremist attacks has increased pressure on religious minorities, including Hindus, in Bangladesh.

The former Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), most recently talked to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh about the importance of countering extremism in the margins of the G7 meeting in Japan on 27 May. The former Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), raised this with Foreign Minister Ali on 5 July. The British High Commissioner regularly discusses these issues with Bangladesh government ministers.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Lord Bishop of Coventry on 2016-07-20.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Saudi Arabia about the use of the death penalty against minors.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

The UK opposes the death penalty in all circumstances and in every country, especially for crimes other than the most serious and for juveniles, in line with the minimum standards set out in the EU Guidelines on the Death Penalty of 2008 and the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Arab Charter on Human Rights.

We continue to raise the cases of Ali Al-Nimr, Dawood Al-Marhoon and Adullah Al-Zaher with the Saudi authorities at the highest levels, including during the former Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond)’s most recent visit to Saudi Arabia on 29 May. We expect that Ali Al-Nimr and the two others who were convicted as juveniles will not be executed.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Lord Bishop of Coventry on 2015-11-17.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the humanitarian conditions inside Camp Liberty.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

The UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) monitors Camp Liberty and has judged humanitarian standards inside the Camp to be well in excess of basic humanitarian standards. Trucks containing food, medicine and diesel fuel continue to routinely enter the camp.

We continue to engage with the Government of Iraq on the welfare of the residents of Camp Liberty. Our Embassy in Baghdad regularly raises this issue with the Government of Iraq. We support UN calls for more to be done to protect residents, but remain of the view that the Government of Iraq is responsible for security at the camp.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Lord Bishop of Coventry on 2016-07-20.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made this year to the government of Saudi Arabia regarding the use of beheading and crucifixion as criminal punishments.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

The UK opposes the death penalty in all circumstances and in every country, especially for crimes other than the most serious and for juveniles, in line with the minimum standards set out in the EU Guidelines on the Death Penalty of 2008 and the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Arab Charter on Human Rights.

We continue to raise the cases of Ali Al-Nimr, Dawood Al-Marhoon and Adullah Al-Zaher with the Saudi authorities at the highest levels, including during the former Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond)’s most recent visit to Saudi Arabia on 29 May. We expect that Ali Al-Nimr and the two others who were convicted as juveniles will not be executed.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Lord Bishop of Coventry on 2015-12-07.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of Iraq’s National Identity Law, and the impact that it will have on religious minorities in Iraq and their right to freedom of religion or belief.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

We are concerned by Iraq’s proposed National Identity Law, in particular Article 26 which could restrict freedom of religion or belief, which is a basic human right.

We welcome the resolution adopted by the majority of the Iraqi Council of Representatives on 17 November declaring its intention to amend the law.

The National Identity Law is yet to be discussed since Parliament has been in recess. We will continue to monitor this issue closely.