§ 26. Mrs. Knightasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to secure the release of Mr. Mirza Yusuf Hussain, a British subject, presently held in custody by the Indian authorities.
§ Mr. KershawSince March, 1972, the High Commission in Delhi has made 16 written and oral representations to the Government of India about Mr. Hussain and on 17th July it received confirmation that he is in custody and in good health. The Indian Government are in touch with the Government of Bangladesh about Mr. Hussain's release and the High Commissions in Delhi and Dacca will do all they can to achieve this.
§ Mrs. KnightIn view of the agony of mind of this man's wife, who is a doctor in Britain, will my hon. Friend seek to speed up the efforts he is making for Mr. Hussain's release? Is he aware that Mrs. Hussain has been working since last August for the release of her British civilian and totally innocent husband who has been accused of no crime whatever? Is it not monstrous that a British subject should be kept under duress for so long?
§ Mr. KershawThe difficulty was that while Mr. Hussain was in Pakistan he held dual nationality and we did not have a right to intervene until March of this year. Since then we have made a large number of oral and written representations. It is now the position that the Indian Government have said that as he is a joint prisoner of both the Bangladesh and Indian Governments, the Bangladesh Government have to agree before he can be released.