Written question asked by David Atkinson (Conservative) on Thursday, 6 July 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 12 July 2000. It was answered by Lord Hain (Labour) on Wednesday, 12 July 2000 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Yemeni Government on the death penalty passed by the Aden Tawaki Court on the Somali national Mohammed Omer Haji for converting to Christianity unless he recants and returns to Islam and on Yemen's apostasy laws.

Answer: Mr. David Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Yemeni Government on the death penalty passed by the Aden Tawaki Court on the Somali national Mohammed Omer Haji for converting to Christianity unless he recants and returns to Islam and on Yemen's apostasy laws. [130075] Mr. Hain: Our Ambassador in Sana'a raised the case of Mohamed Omer Haji with the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdullah al-Sayedi on 9 July and made clear our concerns. We understand that Mohamed Omer Haji has not yet been sentenced. His case resumes on 12 July. We stand ready to raise the matter again with the Yemeni government.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 353 c541-2W;353 c539-40W; 130075
Session: 1999-00
Subjects: Capital punishment Religion Yemen Christianity Haji, Mohammed Omer
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk