§ Mr. AncramTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Nigerian Government on the matter of the sentence of death by stoning passed on Ms Amina Lawal in Nigeria this year; and if he will make a statement. [76528]
§ Mr. StrawWe remain extremely concerned about this sentence.
361WDuring her recent visit to Nigeria my noble Friend the Minister for Africa, the Baroness Amos, raised with President Obasanjo HMG's concerns about the harsh sentences imposed under the Sharia penal codes. She emphasised the strength of feeling against them in the UK and reiterated HMG's opposition to the death penalty in all circumstances.
The British High Commission in Abuja, together with EU partners, follows all such cases closely and keeps in close contact with local human rights organisations. The High Commission regularly raises our concerns about the sentences with the appropriate authorities.
The Federal Government has made clear its opposition to the extreme Sharia penalties. It has declared them discriminatory and unconstitutional. Exercise of the Sharia penal code is, however, entirely under the control of the relevant States. The Federal justice system only comes into play if the defendant appeals to the Federal Appeal Courts.
§ Mr. AncramTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information his Department has collated concerning links between Al-Qaeda and Mansour Thaer; and if he will make a statement[76022]
§ Mr. StrawIn September the US and Italy proposed adding Mansour Thaer to the UN Consolidated List of persons to which UN sanctions apply. According to the Italians he is a member of the Salafist Group for Call and Combat (GSPC), an Algerian-based group operating in North Africa and Italy. The UN added GSPC to the list of terrorist groups linked to al Qaeda on 8 October.