§ 11. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received information that several persons have recently been accused in Palestine of membership of an illegal association and have been sentenced to deportation; whether he is aware that these persons asked that they should be treated as political offenders; that they went on hunger strike and are still on hunger strike, and that three of them were flogged; whether flogging and deportation of political offenders are forms of punishment authorised by the Criminal Court of Palestine; and whether he has any information to communicate to the House on the subject?
§ Mr. AMERYNo, Sir, I have received no information of the kind. If the hon. and gallant Member will furnish me with more precise details, I will consider the desirability of making inquiry into his allegations?
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYMay I ask, in the meantime, whether flogging is one of the punishments in the civil code of Palestine, particularly for political offences?
§ Mr. AMERYI am not aware that it is a punishment for a political offence—if it exists at all; but if the hon. and gallant Member will provide me with some clue to what he is referring, I will have inquiries made.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYWill the right hon. Gentleman inquire into the allegations, contained in a telegram sent to the Labour party, that these men after they had gone on hunger strike were flogged; and if that proves to be so, will he take immediate action?