§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will offer a financial contribution to the United Nations working group on arbitrary detentions to enable it to visit Bahrain to undertake investigations. [9734]
§ Sir Nicholas BonsorThe working group on arbitrary detention has not requested a visit to Bahrain, but if such a request were made, we would expect it to be financed from within the working group's existing resources.
676W
§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Government of Bahrain concerning human rights; and if he will make a statement. [9713]
§ Mr. Jeremy HanleyThe Government deplore all abuses of human rights, wherever they take place. We have discussed human rights issues with the Government of Bahrain at ministerial and official levels on numerous occasions. During my visit to Bahrain in June 1996, I discussed human rights with the Amir, the Prime Minister and the Ministers of the Interior and Foreign Affairs.
§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will make representations to the Government of Bahrain on the need to bring the Bahrain legal code into line with international judicial norms, with special reference to adding the right to appeal against death sentences. [9717]
§ Mr. HanleyThe Government of Bahrain are aware of our concern that, in accordance with international standards, those facing the death penalty should be guaranteed protection of certain rights, including the right of appeal to a court of higher jurisdiction. This is separate from any plea for clemency to the Amir which defendants may make.
§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Government of Bahrain concerning the detention of women and children and the need to observe the UN convention on the rights of children. [9716]
§ Mr. HanleyI refer to my previous answer. Such discussions on human rights cover men, women and children.
§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Government of Bahrain regarding the death sentences passed by the Bahrain state security court on Ali Ahmad Abed Al-Usfur, Yusif Hussein Abd Al-Baqi and Ahmad Khalil Ibrahim Al-Katiab. [9718]
§ Mr. HanleyAli Ahmad Abed Al-Usfur, Yusif Hussein Abd Al-Baqi and Ahmad Khalil Ibrahim Al-Katiab have been convicted of burning to death seven Bangladeshi nationals. Provided international standards are complied with, the decision whether to maintain and implement the death penalty is a matter for each state. I refer the hon. Member to my previous reply.