Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Ann Clwyd (Labour). It was answered on Tuesday, 6 April 2010 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Iraq

Question: I hope we continue to assist Iraq by all means possible, particularly in rebuilding the rule of law. I want to place on record an e-mail that I received a few days ago from the very brave judge who sentenced Saddam Hussein to death:""I am…former chief investigative judge in the Iraqi High Tribunal…I am writing today after a long time to say thank you very much for your help"—" which means this country's help—""to restore the Iraqi justice and rule of law. Without your support we could not have done what we did.""

Answer: Although my right hon. Friend is not retiring, I think the whole House owes her a huge debt of gratitude for the way in which she has conducted her work as the Prime Minister's special representative on human rights in Iraq. She has stood up for the rights of people in Iraq in a remarkable way, and although there was deep division in the House on the Iraq war, I hope that there is unity around the commitments that she has reported and made in respect of human rights, an independent press and a free and independent judiciary.

Secondary information