§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will support the Committee for the Protection of Journalists in their request for the release from prison in Turkey, of Mr. Ragip Duran, a journalist who has worked for the BBC World Service and Agency France Presse. [HL2815]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean)From the information currently available to us, it appears that Mr. Duran's conviction raises questions about Turkey's international commitments to uphold freedom of expression. The British Embassy will be discussing his case further with the relevant Turkish authorities.