§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
(a) what representations they have made to the Syrian authorities on behalf of Mr Jamil Bassam and Mr Ibrahim Khodebandeh, refugees from Iran who were resident in the United Kingdom for more than 20 years and who were arrested during a visit to Syria in April and were returned to Iran on 12 June; and (b) whether, during his forthcoming visit to Iran, the Foreign Secretary will inquire about the health and location of these two persons. [HL3690]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanOur embassy in Damascus repeatedly asked the Syrian authorities for information on Jamil Bassam and Ibrahim Khodebandeh following their detention. The Syrian authorities did not respond to any of the embassy's four formal notes before the men were deported. We have taken this matter up with the Syrian Government and our embassy in Tehran has made it clear to the Iranian Government that we are taking a keen interest in the human rights of these two men.