Asked by
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress was made by the
Foreign Secretary at her meeting with the foreign ministers of
Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait on 20 December
2021 on protecting and promoting human rights.
The Minister of State, Department for the Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
( of Richmond Park) (Con)
My Lords, on 20 December, the Foreign Secretary hosted her Gulf
Cooperation Council counterparts. The meeting was primarily
focused on foreign policy and trade and investment, and the full
communiqué detailing the main discussion points has been
published on GOV.UK. I can reassure all in this House that we
regularly engage with our partners from the GCC and consistently
underline the importance of respect for human rights. We continue
to work closely with our allies to tackle any human rights
concerns.
(Con)
My Lords, a month before that meeting, the Foreign, Commonwealth
and Development Office published its update on the human rights
abuses about which it was concerned in Saudi Arabia. They include
enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention and torture. Did the
Foreign Secretary raise these issues with the Saudi Foreign
Minister when she met him and with what results? If not, why
not?
of Richmond Park (Con)
My Lords, no aspect of our relationship with Saudi Arabia
prevents us speaking frankly about human rights. Saudi Arabia
remains an FCDO human rights priority country, particularly
because of its use of the death penalty and restrictions on
women’s rights, freedom of expression and religious freedom. We
regularly raise concerns with the Saudi authorities through
diplomatic channels, including through Ministers, our ambassador
and the British embassy in Riyadh.
(CB)
My Lords, I want to underline the important question that the
noble Baroness, Lady Anelay, has just asked the noble Lord. Will
he return to the issue of capital punishment that he has just
referred to and confirm that, since 2015, there have been over
600 executions? Although there has been a welcome reduction in
recent years, did we raise that directly with the Saudi
authorities and did we raise with them their obligations under
Article 18 of the 1948 convention on human rights, the issue of
freedom of religion or belief—comparing them perhaps with the
much more favourable disposition of countries such as the UAE in
implementing Article 18?
of Richmond Park (Con)
My Lords, the full communiqué has been published on the
government website but, in relation to the death penalty, in
October last year my noble friend Lord Ahmad—in whose portfolio
this sits—raised his concern regarding the use of the death
penalty in the kingdom with Dr Awwad al-Awwad, president of the
Saudi Human Rights Commission, inquiring specifically into the
case of Abdullah al-Howaiti and Mohammed al-Faraj, both believed
to be minors at the time of their crimes. He raised a range of
other concerns as well.
(Lab)
My Lords, at the time of the meeting, a number of human rights
organisations wrote to the Foreign Secretary regarding Dr
al-Singace, a human rights defender who is in prison in Bahrain.
He has been there for over a decade and has been on hunger strike
for over 190 days. Can the Minister tell us whether this case was
raised and whether we are seeking his release after this
horrendous period?
of Richmond Park (Con)
My Lords, I assure the noble Lord that we continue to monitor and
raise the case of Dr Abduljalil al-Singace as well as many others
with the Bahraini Government and the relevant oversight
bodies.
(LD)
My Lords, the International Relations Committee found that the
Government were on the wrong side of international human rights
law in not pausing arms sales to Saudi Arabia while the attacks
in Yemen are carrying on. The Minister will know that the UN
Secretary-General has condemned the Saudi-led coalition for the
recent attack on 21 January that led to 91 civilians dying. This,
together with the Houthi rebels who are recruiting child
soldiers—primarily from Sudan—shows an escalation of the conflict
in Yemen. This is the very wrong time to be cutting our support
for women and children in Yemen. Will the Government now reverse
this and ensure that those most at risk in Yemen are supported by
the Government, rather than the floor being taken away from under
them?
of Richmond Park (Con)
As I said, we have a good, full and frank relationship with our
Saudi Arabian allies. There are no issues that are off the table
in our discussions with them. Saudi Arabia remains a human rights
priority country within the FCDO, particularly because of the use
of the death penalty. We will always raise concerns with the
Saudi authorities when it is felt that we should do so.
(Con)
My Lords, my noble friend Lady Anelay is entirely right to raise
the question of promoting human rights. It is a great cause, but
does the Minister agree that along with rights go
responsibilities? Will he accept that if these countries are to
join properly in the comity of nations and gain our respect, they
not only have to improve their own human rights record but have
to stand up internationally and vocally for the rule of law and
speak out in flagrant breaches of the rule of law—particularly as
we now see being proposed by President Putin around the borders
of Ukraine?
of Richmond Park (Con)
My Lords, the UK has always believed that reform will be the
guarantor of longer-term stability in the region—that we are more
likely to bring about change through engagement, dialogue and
co-operation. However, of course my noble friend is absolutely
right to say that with the rights enjoyed by these countries come
enormous responsibilities.
(Lab)
My Lords, some of these states, in contrast with the UAE, have a
very patchy record on human rights, particularly in respect of
freedom of Christians. Does the Minister believe that gross human
rights violations should render a state ineligible for membership
of the UN Human Rights Council?
of Richmond Park (Con)
My Lords, if we were to apply—honestly and rigorously—the same
criteria, there would be very few members of the Human Rights
Council remaining.
(Con)
My Lords, my noble friend Lady Anelay asked a specific Question
about whether these matters were raised in the meeting on 20
December. My noble friend the Minister gave a helpful but general
answer and did not answer that specific question. Could he now do
so?
of Richmond Park (Con)
I am very pleased that my answer was helpful. I apologise if it
was too general, but I am afraid that is the depth of my
knowledge on an issue that does not normally sit within my
portfolio.
(Lab)
My Lords, some 20 years ago we signed a big contract with Qatar
to get liquid natural gas from the North Dome oilfield and take
it round to Milford Haven, and that contract was running well.
Bearing in mind the current energy crisis and the need for gas,
were there any discussions about that? It seems to have tailed
away slightly. Where do we stand now on ensuring that provision
of LNG?
of Richmond Park (Con)
I am afraid I do not know if there were discussions in relation
to access to gas in Qatar, but I will ensure that the noble
Lord’s question is followed up in the Foreign Office.
(CB)
My Lords, do any of the places visited allow those of other
faiths, particularly non-Abrahamic faiths, to have their own
places of worship and to practise their religion freely, as
required under Article 18?
of Richmond Park (Con)
My Lords, I may not have heard the beginning of the question
correctly; I think it was about whether the countries visited
permit the kind of religious freedom that the noble Lord rightly
says should exist in all countries. If that was the question, the
answer is no. There are any number of restrictions in place in
countries across the region, including Saudi Arabia. In this
country, we have always strongly supported the right to freedom
of religion or belief across the region and indeed across the
world.
(LD)
My Lords, my noble friend Lord Purvis asked specifically about
Yemen and Saudi involvement, but I did not hear a clear response
on that. Could the Minister comment on the escalation of the war
and the humanitarian disaster in Yemen? Also, could he comment
specifically on whether, in the discussions, Saudi Arabia is
being asked why it is not allowing international organisations to
deliver basic food and medicine to people who are starving and
suffering in this terrible conflict?
of Richmond Park (Con)
My Lords, to my knowledge, this issue was raised in discussions
in Saudi Arabia, particularly in relation to ease of access and
transport for delivering much-needed provisions in Yemen. I will
encourage my colleague to follow up with a more detailed
answer.
(Con)
My Lords, there is barely a country in the world with which we
will not have some differences on domestic policy, but with Saudi
Arabia this has spilled over into international affairs—in Yemen,
with the kidnap of the former Lebanese leader and in the
Khashoggi murder. Will my noble friend the Minister confirm that,
in our relations with all GCC countries, we will stress the vital
importance of the principles of national sovereignty, territorial
jurisdiction and order among nations?
of Richmond Park (Con)
My noble friend is exactly right, and that is very much the view
of the British Government. There is no single formula for success
or single model of government, particularly in a region with such
distinct cultures and differing political systems. It is not for
the UK or indeed other Governments outside the region to dictate
how each country meets the aspirations of its people, but there
are certain principles that we must—and do—continue to stand up
for.
